Villa still to prove their European credentials

As Aston Villa stay on course for a Champions League spot this season, the issue of their strength and depth will come into play.

With James Milner and Emile Heskey out for their UEFA Cup home leg tie against the capable CSKA Moscow, Craig Gardner slotted in on the right and the experienced John Carew started up front with Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Villa’s commitment was there from the outset, but they struggled to contain the Russians’ classy technique and beautiful one-touch passing. The home side’s defenders will need to become well-attuned to dealing with the quality of attackers like Vagner Love and Milos Krasic if they are to build upon a Champions League qualification.

As it was, for the first goal, it was all Villa’s defence could do but to sit back and admire Love’s precise one-two with Alan Dzagoev before releasing a left-foot shot past Brad Guzan.

Home side's confidence

The home side’s confidence this season came through in the second half when Ashley Young delivered brilliant crosses into the box and Stiliyan Petrov made some powerful runs through the centre.

The equaliser came after another Ashley Young delivery, Craig Gardner got on the end and played John Carew in to finish.

Craig Gardner

In the absence of Milner, Craig Gardner played one of his brightest games for Villa, his excellent work ethic and runs forward showing the benefits of having a competitive squad. Manchester United have shown that again this season, and it often decides the fate of a team’s success within Europe.

The Russians had not played a competitive game for three months since their season finished in December. Villa were unable to exploit that by adding a winner in the final minutes, so a difficult tie will face them on the plastic pitch of the Luzhniki Stadium in two weeks time.

Villa will have come off playing Chelsea this weekend, and the Russians will be fitter and stronger, thus providing them with a real test of their European credentials.

Villa exposes the gulf between European Champions and England

Spain’s two goal victory over England in Seville came as no surprise or huge embarrassment, but it did once again raise the question of the quality of the Premier League.

Phil Jagielka, winning his second cap in the centre of defence, was selected on form, on his recent emphatic performances at nullifying Premier League attackers.

Fabio Capello would have noted Jagielka’s three commanding displays against Fernando Torres in the Merseyside derbies over the last couple of weeks.

David Villa

But Jagielka was unable to handle David Villa’s intricate and quick movements that led to the striker’s opening goal in the 36th minute. Darting either side of the Everton defender, Villa found space for himself to coolly finish past the hapless David James in goal.

David Villa’s class provided a sharp reminder to both Jagielka and the rest of the England team of the step-up to international football. Stewart Downing and Shaun Wright-Phillips might be star men for their respective clubs every week, but the wingers provided rare moments of that overlapping play that typifies Spanish football.

Equalling Bobby Moore’s record in making his 108th appearance for England, David Beckham produced some precise passes to justify his second half inclusion. Delivering a long ball across to Wright-Phillips on the left, the wide man cut inside and shot towards José Manuel Reina.

In the final moments, Beckham’s energy did not waver as he retrieved the ball in the centre and made an exquisite through-ball to Carlton Cole, who beat Reina but not Carlos Marchena on the goal line.

"basic errors"

Such was the strength and depth of Spain’s attack that the second goal came from 23- year-old substitute Fernando Llorente. The striker scored his debut goal for Spain after another defensive mistake by England, when Matthew Upson conceded a free kick, midfielder Xavi delivered and Llorente rose to head in.

Both Spain’s goals were adept finishes, but as Sam Allardyce concluded in ITV’s post-match analysis, it was “basic errors” that cost England victory.