22-year-old Australian Chris Herd received high praise from Aston Villa coach Alex McLeish, who named him man-of-the-match during Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw against Wolverhampton on Saturday night.
The full-back was actively involved throughout the match and nearly scored a late winner for his team.
“Herdy didn’t harm his chances at all. He’s a player who was out on loan last year, had a few matches with the first team, and his desire was evident today,” McLeish remarked.
“Can he elevate his performance further? Can he deliver the full-blooded quality we’re looking for?
“There’s no question about his athleticism. His crosses from wide positions were outstanding. Everything worked well for Herdy today. The challenge for him now is to consistently replicate this in multiple games.”
Reportedly, his teammate Shane Lowry is on the radar of Ipswich Town, Cardiff City, and Middlesbrough, who are keen on acquiring the defender on loan.
In other news, Blackburn manager Steve Kean appointed Brett Emerton as captain for his farewell match at Eawood Park before his transition to Sydney FC.
Unfortunately, he didn’t receive the ideal send-off as his team struck the woodwork multiple times and ultimately conceded a late penalty to Tim Cahill‘s Everton.
Cahill, who came on as a substitute in the second half, later took to Twitter to dispel concerns about an injury ahead of the Socceroos’ upcoming World Cup qualifier on Friday.
“Great win and the fans were amazing as always. Sad to say goodbye to Emerton; wish I could’ve played more than 35 minutes in his last UK game.”
Cahill was also named, alongside Emerton, to represent Australia in the World Cup qualifiers against Thailand in Brisbane on Friday and away against Saudi Arabia on September 6. He seized the chance to reassure fans about his fitness.
“I’m completely fit and excited for the World Cup qualifiers against Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Getting ready to board the plane to OZ soon.”
Kean expressed nothing but admiration for Emerton’s long-standing commitment to the club.
“It’s been a fantastic contribution; I wanted to make him the skipper today to properly bid farewell to the fans. His professionalism here will always be remembered,” Kean stated following the match.
“I think his return to Sydney represents a great opportunity. He needed to go back to the city where he grew up and where his wife is from, and as a club, we felt we couldn’t prevent that since he has served us so well during his time here.”
In the nPower Championship, Mile Jedinak achieved his first full 90-minute performance for Crystal Palace in a 1-1 draw against Blackpool, while Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough), Neil Kilkenny (Bristol City), Adam Federici (Reading), and Patrick Kisnorbo (Leeds United) also featured for their respective teams.
In the Netherlands, Tommy Oar netted an equalizer for FC Utrecht against Roda JC in the Eredivisie, contributing to a 3-1 victory for his side.
On the first day of the new Italian Serie B season, Carl Valeri delivered a solid performance as Sassuolo triumphed over Nocerino 3-1.
In Asia, Sasa Ognenovski propelled Seongnam Ilhwa into the Korean FA Cup final with his opening goal in their 3-0 semi-final victory against Pohang Steelers last week. Currently placed 13th in the K-League, Seongnam will face Suwon Bluewings in the FA Cup final on October 15.
Josh Kennedy will return home brimming with confidence after scoring in Nagoya Grampus’ 4-1 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos, moving his team into Japan’s top two.
by Buford Balony
