Ultimate Clash Between Swansea and Aston Villa

Oct 24, 2015

Villa havn’t won since the opening weekend of the season and a lack of confidence was evident in the first half. The major talking point came when Leandro Bacuna wasted a free-kick but in the aftermath Richards and Fernandez clashed.

Richards was initially blocked off by the Swansea defender and as they locked foreheads, words were exchanged. Sherwood claimed afterwards Fernandez had headbutted his player.’If the ref has seen it, he has to send him (Fernandez) off,’ the Aston Villa manager said. ‘He will probably get done retrospectively but it doesn’t help us out. I think Micah was just upset someone stuck their head into his face.’Richards didn’t forget it either. After the final whistle, he looked for Fernandez again as they walked off. Inside the tunnel, team-mates and stewards jumped in to stop the fracas from getting out of hand and the outside cover of the tunnel was seen to shake and move because of the impact. Referee Neil Swarbrick was aware of the fracas and will mention it in his report.

Swansea defender Kyle Naughton gets in the middle of Micah Richards (right) and Ashley Williams (left) as the duo argue

The opposing captains scream at each other during a feisty first-half at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon

Wales centre back Williams appears to grab Richards as striker Rudy Gestede attempts to pull the pair apart

Kieran Richardson (left) and Andre Ayew (right) compete for the ball during the Premier League clash

Villa youngster Jack Grealish goes down holding his right foot as the referee and Gabriel Agbonlahor speak to the midfielder

After an hour, some decent football broke out with the Ayew brothers lined up on opposite sides taking centre-stage.

Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan made an excellent save from Swansea’s Andre and, within 60 seconds, Jordan Ayew – at 24 the younger sibling by a year – put his side ahead with a stooping header fromn Gabriel Agbonlahor’s cross.

The roof lifted off Villa Park but the optimism proved short-lived. After 68 minutes Richards was penalised for a foul on Gylfi Sigurdsson and the Icelander curled home the resulting free-kick from 25 yards.

‘I knew he’d score, I’ve seen it a million times before at the Tottenham training ground,’ said Sherwood about his former player.

With three minutes left, Villa collapsed again. Kyle Naughton crossed from the right and Andre Ayew nipped ahead of Alan Hutton to score. ‘Too easy,’ said Sherwood.

Ghanian brothers Andre and Jordan Ayew mark each other at corner during the Premier League clash on Saturday

Aston Villa’s Rudy Gestede gets his head on the ball to flick it on ahead of Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng

Young Swansea manager Garry Monk and Sherwood offer words of encouragement for their players at Villa Park

Ayew seems to suggest to referee Neil Swarbrick that an elbow was used in a challenge during the first-half

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor watches on as his shot drifts wide of Lukasz Fabianski’s goal following a neat one-two

Ayew was a free transfer from Marseille in the summer and after five goals already this season, looks one of the biggest Premier League bargains there has been.

‘I didn’t think he’d come to us because I know a lot of top European clubs were interested,’ said Monk. ‘He is a great player and character, a real leader for us.’

Villa could be bottom of the table at the close of the weekend should Sunderland pick up a result against Newcastle United.

It’s a terrible time for England’s premier club from the second city.

Ayew was denied by Guzan for Swansea moments before his brother Jordan gave the hosts the lead at Villa Park

Jordan Ayew is congratulated by team-mate Rudy Gestede following his header to give the hosts the lead at Villa Park

Jordan ducks down to divert a diving header into the bottom corner as Villa netted the opening goal of the game

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood celebrates after Aston Villa took the lead six minutes before Sigurdsson’s stunning strike

Sigurdsson celebrates after his free-kick brought Swansea back into the game at 1-1 in Birmingham on Saturday

The fans were relatively restrained at the end but you could still hear some boos. Defender Joleon Lescott came in for some stick from fans. He was a Sherwood pick but others signings were selected by sporting director Hendrik Almstadt.

It looks like a hotch-potch of a football club and the performances and results are proving it.

‘I speak to Tom – he has said nothing regarding my job,’ said Sherwood. He better hope it stays that way but it looks increasingly unlikely.

Former owner of Aston Villa Doug Ellis is assisted to his seat prior to the Barclays Premier League match