Abby Brammell

By Neil Moxley

Hero, not Villain: Luke Young grabbed a rare goal to seal the points from Aston Villa


Luke Young was ignored for reasons unknown by former Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill. If the right back wanted to send his old boss a message and help appoint his successor, he chose the perfect time to do so.

His coolly-struck eighth-minute goal somehow earned Villa's caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald a second straight home victory in the Barclays Premier League as the Scot's hopes of landing the job were given a huge boost.

After conceding nine goals in four days, there was apprehension around Villa Park as David Moyes's slick Everton played with swagger.

By the final whistle, nothing had changed. Villa took the lead and their players defended as if their livelihoods depended on it.

For some of them, that might have been true with the managerial vacancy at Villa up for grabs in the two-week international break.

There was a degree of good fortune about their win. Sixty-eight per cent of possession and 18 corners failed to reap the reward Everton's neat approach work deserved


Top of the stopper: Tim Howard produced an excellent save from Ashley Young to keep Everton in the match


They were guilty of over-playing at times but Villa still needed two saves of the highest quality in the final seconds from Brad Friedel to secure the points.

MacDonald will be asked today if he wants to be considered for the post on a full-time basis. He ticks plenty of the boxes for owner Randy Lerner, but Villa confirmed last night that they have started interviewing other candidates.

MacDonald has a head start because he enjoys the respect of Villa's dressing-room, has shown a commitment to bringing through youngsters - many of whom he has nurtured - and has the goodwill of everyone at Villa, having spent 15 years here living his professional life in the shadows.


Dashed: Everton's Jack Rodwell (left) was forced off with an injury midway through the second half


However, in the three weeks since O'Neill quit, MacDonald's emotions have been tossed about like a teddy bear in a washing machine.

MacDonald said: 'Mr Lerner came into the dressing-room at the final whistle and said "Well done". I'll be trying to speak to him tomorrow.


'Twenty minutes after a game like that is no time to make a decision that could change your life. I still don't know whether it's for me. I've got to be convinced that Aston Villa will progress under me.

'I'd have to discuss how we see the future of the club. That would be a big thing for me.'

Yesterday's decisive moment came when Everton's Marouane Fellaini failed to control the ball near his own penalty area. Winger Ashley Young picked up possession and Luke Young charged infield, unchallenged.

Taking the ball in his stride, he lofted it into the top corner of Tim Howard's net.

Steven Pienaar crashed a shot against the right post but they only consistently threatened once Louis Saha had replaced Jermaine Beckford in the second half.

James Collins and Luke Young will be black and blue this morning after a succession of shots crashed into their torsos.

Moyes said: 'We did enough to come away with something. We held a dominance, but we are getting into the final third and not creating well enough. Last year we were scoring goals from different areas. We are still looking around for those goals.'


source: dailymail