FA Premier League - Monday 28th December 1998, from Villa Park

V

Result
Aston Villa	2	1	Sheffield Wednesday
Southgate 7 Ehiogu 85		Carbone 8
Att: 39,217

Teams
Oakes	Srnicek
Scimeca	Atherton
Southgate	Walker
Barry	Thome
Watson	Hinchcliffe
Ehiogu	Alexandersson
Hendrie	Jonk
Taylor	Stefanovic
Wright	Rudi
Joachim	Carbone
Dublin	Booth

Subs

Subs

Draper - Taylor (53 mins)	Humphreys - Rudi (88 mins)
Collymore - Scimeca (90 mins)	Briscoe - Alexandersson (88 mins)

Un-used Subs

Un-used Subs

Rachel	Pressman
Charles	Sonner
Grayson	Magilton

Match Report

Villains steal late win against 10-man Owls It took a late strike from Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu to take maximum points for the league leaders against a Wednesday side disadvantaged for most of the game. Yugoslav Stefanovic was sent off somewhat harshly in the 21st minute after he recieved his second yellow card of the match. There was a return to the team for little Italian Carbone whom Wednesday had missed in their Boxing Day defeat to Leicester. Danny Wilson changed his formation for the trip to Villa Park to a three man central defence consisting of Walker, Thome and Stefanovic. There was no place in the team for 17 year old Morrison, who had made a suprise debut in that Boxing Day match. The game, the last of 1998 for both teams, started with two early goals. The first was for Villa on 7 minutes when Srnicek could only parry a Villa free-kick straight to England defender Southgate who crashed it in from 12 yards out through a crowd of Wednesday defenders. Wednesday hit back straight away - a Hinchcliffe cross was headed back across the goalmouth by Booth and when Ehiogu missed the ball completely there was no stopping Carbone who smashed it in marking his return to the team with his fourth of the season. In the 21st minute Villa striker Joachim turned Stefanovic on the edge of the Wednesday box pace and the Yugoslav brought him down - resulting in a second bookable offence and his marching orders from the referee. Despite their one man advantage, Villa didn't really look like they were troubling the Wednesday defence too much. Infact the Owls had a chance themselves when Rudi picked out Alexandersson but squandered the chance by trying to volley a first time effort. Villa should've possibly taken the lead just before half-time when Dublin's shot was blocked by Walker and the rebound deflected off Srnicek and away to safety. Moments Half-time: Villa 1-1 Owls On 59 minutes Ehiogu headed in from a corner but the goal was disallowed for pushing in the goal box. Srnicek then pulled off a reflex save to deny Dublin and you got the feeling this might be Wednesday's day as the league leaders became increasingly frustrated. But then 5 minutes from time Villa did get their goal. A corner by Wright was met by Ehiogu who headed in powerfully to seal the win and relief allround for the Midlands club. Danny Wilson certainly wasn't a happy man after the game - labelling the Stefanovic's first yellow card as 'diobolical'. "I think the referee will be embarrassed when he sees it. But give our boys credit the way they played after that." Villa boss John Gregory also felt the decision was the wrong one: "I thought the sending off was very harsh. I thought Stefanovic was unlucky to go off."