Aston Villa 2-2 QPR: Villa start the new year with a draw

A game like no other, matches at Villa Park just seem to always have some crazy aspect to them. Today it was a match where Villa played hosts to Queen’s Park Rangers, who sat just above Villa in the table, by one point to start the day.

After some early Villa pressure and four big chances in the first 20’, Villa seemed like they’d have this one in control.

In the first 10’, there was a legit penalty shout for Albert Adomah that was ignored by the referee, and minutes later, Tammy Abraham broke free on goal, but his shot was saved by the keeper.

John McGinn was the next one to have a go as he banged the crossbar with a signature John McGinn shot, but it wasn’t to be this time. It was okay though, because immediately following that attack, McGinn whipped a ball in and Tammy Abraham finished the ball into the back of the net in the 21’.

After the goal, QPR saw a spell of some decent possession, and had a glaring chance fall to them in the 31’ as they broke down their right-hand side, crossed in, but the volley was smashed over the bar.

Then, it happened. Yep, it happened. It seems ever so often, when things are going slightly wrong for us, and we can’t find the ball for 5-10 minutes, we concede a goal. With QPR’s first registered shot on target coming in the 40’, a belter from 30 yards out saw the score level, just five minutes from halftime.

To start the second half, Jonathan Kodjia collided with the QPR goalkeeper early on, which saw the keeper receiving treatment for a head injury, for a legitimate 5 minutes. This seemed to kick-start the time wasting for QPR, as they seemed okay with holding on for any result. Despite needing that much treatment for a head injury and a bloody nose, the goalie was able to continue.

And, of course, what would this game be without QPR taking the lead.

In the 57’, a Villa attack quickly turned into a counter for QPR, and a break down the right, with a ball squared across the box, led to another goal for the away side. It was hard to say it wasn’t deserved, because it was a good attack off of the counter.

In the 60’, a double substitution for Aston Villa, as Albert Adomah and Jonathan Kodjia were both off, and Yannick Bolasie and Anwar El Ghazi came on to the wings.

in the 65’, Tammy Abraham turned a header off a corner on net, but it was cleared off the line, after almost trickling in.

Then, in the 75’, Tammy took his chance and got his brace. A run from Anwar El Ghazi down the wing, put a cross into the box which Abraham smashed home for the equalizer.

A bunch of time wasting efforts since taking the lead, QPR seemed content to continue that at 2-2, for the last 15 minutes. Some chances here and there for both sides, saw a lot (and I cannot exaggerate A LOT enough) of time wasting efforts. So much so that the added time was +11 minutes.

In the 91’, a tired Conor Hourihane came off and Glenn Whelan came on in the midfield.

Some more chances here and there fell for both sides in added time, mainly to the hosts Villa, who will definitely be felt hard done by this result and dropping points, but to an extent, also relieved to not have lost.

Around the league some results went Villa’s way, which will make the fact that Villa couldn’t pounce and close gaps to start 2019, hurt way more.

We look forward to the FA Cup tie versus Swansea on Saturday, and next seeing a league match on January 12, away to Wigan.

UTV