Peterborough United (0) vs Aston Villa (2) FT

21.34: Full time at London Road and another win this preseason. Ireland seems to be the consensus man of the match, and a very good workout with a young team at times. Second goal came at the end of a number of passes which is pleasing. Defence seemed to perform well, and the full backs got forward a load which I expect to be a feature this season. Pleasing outing! UTV.

21.32: Holman with another good effort well saved by the Posh keeper.

21.31: Burke with a neat turn and shot well saved again.

21.27: More subs as Ireland, Stevens and Baker come off for Burke, Warnock and Clark.

21.24: 2-0 Villa! Ireland finds Holman who lets fly with his left foot to finish well. He keeps up his strong start to his Villa career. In excess of 20 passes building up to the goal according to McNaught, always nice to hear!

21.21: The Posh get a cross in which is cut out by Given. He immediately volleys it to Weimann who finds Ireland who has his shot saved by the keeper. Lightning fast break by all accounts, nice to see us mixing things up.

21.17: N’Zogbia off for the Fonz. Did alright but as Ken McNaught is saying, he needs to find more of an end product.

21.12: Triple substitution for Villa. Carruthers, Johnson and Delph off, Bannan, El Ahmadi and Holman all coming on. Ireland been handed the captain’s armband. Good to see Johnson get himself a goal, hope he gets more of a chance this season.

21.11: Stevens gets forward well, and his across the box misses everyone. The full backs have got forward well again, a feature of the early Lambert reign.

21.06: N’Zogbia pops up a few times. Baker puts in a late challenge but escapes with a warning.

21.01: Baker makes a couple of vital blocks, as Peterborough continue to push.

20.58: Posh threaten a bit, as Lichaj blocks an effort well.

20.56: Johnson and Carruthers link well, and as Johnson looks to feed Weimann, it’s just cut out.

20.53: Good run by N’Zogbia who fires at the keeper.

20.50: Lichaj has an early effort from thirty odd yards. Just wide.

20.49: Second half kicks off, and no subs for Villa.

20.34: Half time and Johnson’s goal separates the teams. Ken McNaught has chosen Ireland as his stand out man so far.

20.31: That goal has brought a few other chances, with Stevens, Weimann and Carruthers all having a go.

20.27: A goal was inevitable after that last update! Some good football as Ireland, Weimann, N’Zogbia and Lichaj link up before the American’s cross finds Daniel Johnson at the back post who makes no mistake.

20.24: All a bit quiet at the mo. Some good passing but not enough attacking penetration. Typical preseason fare by all accounts.

20.20: Lambert is once again prowling the touchline, and wasn’t too happy at our set-up for a free kick by all accounts. Commentators saying that Peterborough are having a good spell.

20.15: Sub for Villa as Lowton comes on for Herd who had a knock to his thigh by the sound of things.

20.12: Ireland seems to be the stand out performer so far. Throws his body in the way of a free kick and looking dangerous going forward. Villa have had a few chances, but not taking them so far. Boro have a shot saved by Given.

20.07: Ireland and Stevens combine well, and the young left back flashes an effort just wide. Stevens has featured a lot so far.

20.05: N’Zogbia has a good effort well saved by the Villa old boy in net. Applause around the ground for our captain come the 19th minute. Great stuff.

20.00: Johnson has a shot deflected wide for a corner. N’Zogbia takes it, Herd meets up but doesn’t threaten the goal. Herd seemed to pick up a knock and is currently receiving treatment.

19.59: Unrelated to the game but Paul who is providing the updates has just released the following news:

‘Responding to fans queries, Jean II Makoun is No.17. Waiting for work permit issues to be cleared up.’

19.58: Ireland with a good run and gets a shot off which is saved.

19.52: Boro have a shot saved by Guzan. Commentators suggest we’ve started well with lots of one touch passing.

19.50: Herd is starting at centre-back, and Ireland is just off Weimann. Couple of early crosses from Stevens and Lichaj as the full backs look to get forward.

19.47: Delph is captaining the side again, as the game just kicks off.

19.33: Villa not rocking the lime green tonight. Home shirt with blue shorts.

19.28: Peterborough are fielding a Villa old boy, as Robert Olejnik starts in nets for the Posh.

19.12: It’s now being reported that Clark, Bannan and the Fonz are on the bench, it just wasn’t on the original team sheet.

The squad are back from the States, and are taking on Peterborough United in their latest friendly. Today’s news has been dominated by the signing of Ron Vlaar, but he’s not featuring tonight.

Here is the side and subs:

Given, Lichaj, Baker, Herd, Stevens, N’Zogbia, Johnson, Delph, Carruthers, Ireland, Weimann.

Subs: Guzan, Marshall, Lowton, Warnock, El Ahmadi, Holman, Burke, Clark, Delfouneso, Bannan

Interesting side, and looking like Herd might be starting centre-back or maybe right back if Lichaj plays centrally. With the news of the Dunne injury we look a bit light, and not sure where Clark is tonight. Good to see Johnson getting a start, and looks like Weimann will be up top on his own. No Fonz on the bench, and with Gabby and Bent out, a forward is looking more of a priority all the time. Three of our new arrivals are on the bench, and Bannan and Gardner are also missing (Gardner tweeted he rolled his ankle earlier, nothing serious). Let’s hope we continue the good stuff we’ve seen this offseason.