On Sunday Wembley hosted Aston Villa's first final in 10 years, although the result was not what the Claret and Blue faithful was hoping for we can hold our heads high knowing on another day we would have taken the trophy back to Villa Park.
Our Wembley adventure started early, 7:30 in the morning for the Early Birds! The local club opened for early drinks and breakfast cobs whilst our group woke from their slumber.
As the clock struck 9:30 we boarded our coach for destination Wembley. Two hours later we arrived in Uxbridge at a specially booked pub for our party.
After a couple of drinks we headed to the Tube station full of optimism ahead of the big clash. As we walked through Uxbridge and boarded the carriages our noisy Claret and Blue invasion stirred the locals! We even had a TV crew on our carriage recording for Central News…I was hoping to be a star on the big screen again!
Around half an hour later we arrived at Wembley Park, walked the famous 'Wembley Walk' and into the magnificent new national stadium.
The Villa end filled before the Manchester United sections. Our singing, support and energy significantly outshone our opponents throughout, from pre-match right to the end.
The match
Emile Heskey returned to the starting line-up at the expense of two-goal FA Cup penalty hero John Carew to the disappointment of the vast majority of Villa fans.
Aston Villa made the more positive start with Ashley Young in particular looking dangerous.
We soon had the dream start on 5 minutes when Vidic brought Gabriel Agbonlahor down in the United box. He firstly held the Villa striker by his shirt then cynically took Gabby’s legs as he powered through. No doubt a penalty was awarded. James Milner strolled forward and scored confidently with a perfect low and hard penalty, sending Kuszczak diving in the opposite direction.
Dream start, looking strong, was this to be our year? Astonishingly Vidic was not even booked. The centre back was lucky to even have been on the pitch as he was the last defender and should have been dismissed. This decision by dodgy referee Phil Dowd later provided to be very costly.
Unfortunately our lead only lasted for 7 minutes with a series of defensive mistakes. Firstly Carlos Cuellar carelessly gave the ball back far too easily to the opposition, then Richard Dunne failed to clear. Michael Owen was able to capitalise and decisively finish to put United level.
Villa were not to be deflated and continued to pressure. Milner forced an excellent save from Kuszczak and Agbonlahor had a couple of efforts too.
Worryingly our defence was not looking as strong as normal. Cuellar did not seem comfy at right back - his general passing and forward play stifled the Villa attack. James Collins' positioning also let him down at times.
However our cause was not help by Phil Dowd. He booked Collins and Downing for lesser challenges than those made by United players who escaped punishment. The match turned into the ‘Phil Dowd Show’ with some of the strangest decisions I have ever seen. Referees should be more accountable for their actions and biased approach.
Just before the interval injured Michael Owen was replaced with the in-form Wayne Rooney. This changed swung the match in United's favour with the striker adding extra energy and focus to their play.
On the verge of the whistle Park hit the post and somehow Villa scrambled the ball clear for the score to remain level at half-time.
Half-time could not have come soon enough. After a promising start we had lost momentum and had been on the back foot for the latter part of the period. Heskey was having a particularly poor match and we were desperate for Carew to be brought on.
Going into the second period the Claret and Blue army was confident of a positive result. We had our chances and more of a positive approach would see us lifting the Carling Cup.
Both teams had early efforts after the restart, Gabby and Petrov for Villa.
We had plenty of opportunities with crossing at set-pieces but either the final delivery needed to be better or we did not have enough players in the area.
Further chances fell to Villa but with just over 15 minutes to go substitute Rooney scored what turned out to be the winning goal. A decent cross by Valencia was headed home by the England striker, beating Collins to the ball.
Disappointing a defender the height of Collins was beaten in the air by Rooney. Both United goals were avoidable and caused by our own errors.
Rooney shortly after was inches from sealing the win early but his shot hit the post thus still leaving Villa in the match.
Rather belatedly with 10 minutes to go Carew was brought on for Cuellar, leaving three strikers upfront. Dunne also added his height to our attack.
Heskey produced a fine save from Kuszczak with minutes remaining when his header looked to be sneaking under the bar.
Dunne was just wide with a header and only inches from connecting with a cross to take us into extra time.
It was not to be our day. Full-time whistle went and we had just been edged out by an ordinary Manchester United. The match could have gone either way. A little bit of luck, balanced refereeing, playing our normal 'free-flowing' game and the Carling Cup would be back at Villa Park.
United were lucky. We stayed until the end to applaud our heroes and solemnly exited the ground, down ‘Wembley Way’ and waited to board a packed Tube.
The Legend's Man of the Match: James Milner - worked tirelessly throughout and provided good creativity.
The Carling Cup dream is over for this year but the FA Cup dream is very much alive. Come on Villa let’s get to Wembley again and return triumphant with the FA Cup. Up the Villa.
Match lineups, scorers, etc.
