Chicago Fire (0) vs Aston Villa (1) FT

03.29: Full time and it finishes 1-0 to the Villa. Deserved victory made all the better by the Chicago Fire stream and their quite awesome commentators. Hoping Gabby’s injury isn’t too bad because he played well and looked sharp tonight. Not really many stand out performers but the team did well and we didn’t really look like conceding which was nice. Another positive result for Lambert and the Villa. Thanks to all who stuck with us. UTV.

03.27: Successive yellow cards for Carruthers and the Fonz as time winds down.

03.24: Free kick for Villa just outside the box but Bannan hits it over.

03.21: Late corner for the Fire but once again we look solid enough.

03.19: Very little has happened as the game approaches the 89th minute.

03.12: Hometown boy Guzan gets a good reception as he comes on for Given.

03.09: 16,338 is the attendance.

03.07: Villa have picked things up the last few minutes. El Ahmadi has done well since coming on and Lowton just found himself in space but got it all wrong and hit the ball wide.

03.05: Collins is now captain. Holman does well and feeds Warnock who’s cross is disappointing. Bannan has a shot straight at the keeper.

03.01: More subs as Johnson, Holman and Carruthers replace Ireland, N’Zogbia and Weimann.

03.00: El Ahmadi has also come on for Gardner.

02.57: Worrying signs as Gabby goes down in agony after turning a defender. Departs on a stretcher and is replaced by the Fonz. Looked a bit nasty and I hope it’s not a long one as he did well tonight. Bannan also comes on for Delph.

02.49: Subs. Warnock on for Lichaj and Clark on for Baker.

02.48: Fire break but Baker gets back extremely well to make a top challenge.

02.44: Gabs does well down the left beating a couple of men but his cross is overhit. Fair play to Gabby, he’s been top tonight.

02.41: In possibly the least surprising incident tonight, Delph is booked for a late tackle.
02.38: Second half kicks off, and we see two subs. Lowton on for Herd and Collins on for Dunne.

02.24: The rest of the half peters out and Villa find themselves 1-0 up. Deserved as we’ve been the better side, but in all fairness very little has happened.

02.18: Gabby does well to hold the ball up and finds N’Zogbia. N’Zog makes a good run but once again sees his shot blocked. At the other end the Fire have a shot that sails over.

02.14: Some neat interplay sees the ball come to Gardner and from 25 yards or so he sees a low show pushed wide by the keeper. The corner is claimed by the fire keeper.

02.12: Villa continue to play well and force a corner. Gardner plays it in and Dunne gets up well but can’t find the target.

02.06: Goal! Great ball in by Herd and Gabby gets up well between two defenders to rifle a header home. Deserved overall I think.

02.02: Gabby causes problems down the right hand side, and gets away a shot which the keeper palms behind for a corner. It comes to nothing from Gardner who has disappointed with his set pieces tonight. You can see we’re looking to play football, but the quality has been a bit lacking at times.

01.59: N’Zogbia briefly threatens again down the left, but his cross is disappointing and goes out of play. The fire faithful are staying loud so fair play to them.

01.55: Huge respect to the Chicago fans. 19th minute, and the whole stadium stands up to applaud our captain in his battle against leukemia. Get well soon skip.

01.52: Lichaj does well getting forward down the left, finds N’Zogbia who shoots wide from the angle.

01.50: Good work by Gabby sets up Ireland, who puts his effort just wide.

01.46: Still few chances. The local commentators have just talked up Stephen Ireland and saying how good he could be was nice. Just had a look at the MLS standings and the Chicago Fire are fifth out of ten in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia were 9th so a decent challenge tonight.

01.43: Villa have started relatively well, but the Fire are quite physical and allowing little space. Few shots blocked but still waiting for a real chance.

01.40: Gabby is hacked down on the edge of the area and stays down for a while, free kick comes to nothing.

01.37: The game kicks off, and Delph gives away a foul within ten or so seconds. No real surprise!

01.23: I didn’t know what time the game started, hence the early start but I’ve since been informed it’s 1.30. Going back to Delph and you can’t help but think this will be a massive boost to him. Still not convinced he can make it at the highest level, though I’d love to be proven wrong.

01.06: According to the Villa feed, Delph is captain tonight and Bent is out with a slight thigh strain which is ‘nothing serious’. Interesting choice with Delph, who I think has a massive season ahead of him.

Last time I did this was fun. This time after a few beers should be even more fun. There is a live stream this time around so hopefully whoever is up gets to see it. If not I will be here providing timely updates!

Here is the starting eleven and subs:

Given, Herd, Lichaj, Baker, Dunne, Gardner, Delph, Ireland, N’Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Weimann.

Subs: Guzan, Marshall, Lowton, Warnock, El Ahmadi, Collins, Holman, Carruthers, Clark, Delfouneso, Bannan, Johnson.

I think Bent is missing but that seems about it. Looking forward to this one. Another test against a team in the midst of their season. UTV.