Walcott takes sting out of lacklustre opener

MARTIN O’Neill’s suitability for the Ireland job was evident in Villa’s doughty performance, as they proved his renowned ability to get the maximum from a relatively mediocre squad.

Proof of their new manager’s infectious enthusiasm was demonstrated by the tireless midfield endeavours of the likes of Gavin McCann, in denying us the time and space in the centre of the park to do Villa any real damage. I found it hard to believe this was the same player, who, along with a mainly similar Villa squad, had been such a willing victim of last season’s April Fool’s Day drollery, when O’Leary’s side offered little objection to dropping their shorts for their 5-0 spanking.

We’d already witnessed a couple of goals at our new gaff, during Dennis Bergkamp’s testimonial, but Adebayor was prevented from inscribing his name in the record books for posterity, as the first ever Premiership goalscorer there, when his header on the stroke of half-time was ruled offside. So it was all the more galling when we gifted Olof Mellberg an opportunity to carve his initials on the goalposts.