Dwight Yorke was restored to his preferred striking role and came up trumps
with a decisive double as Aston Villa swept aside local rivals West Bromwich
Albion to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup.
He has had to play in a deeper role as manager Brian Little has tried to
accommodate Trinidad and Tobago international Yorke, Stan Collymore and Savo
Milosevic.
But with Milosevic back home in Yugoslavia in disgrace after his spitting
outburst, Yorke was restored with deadly effect to the role that brought him 45
goals in the previous two seasons.
Albion remained in the contest for more than an hour as Simon Grayson's goal
was the only tangible difference between the teams.
But then Yorke struck twice in three minutes and the tension that has been
gripping Villa Park after recent performances was lifted from the terraces.
Although struggling in the league, Villa emphasised the gulf between the
Premiership and the First Division as they did their best to wipe out the memory
of the 5-0 humiliation at Blackburn.
Little said a commanding performance was the best way to appease the Villa
faithful and his troops responded in style.
Albion huffed and puffed and showed the determination expected of a side going
into a match where local pride was at stake - but Villa keeper Mark Bosnich had
only one save of note to make in the entire 90 minutes.
Villa, in contrast, always looked menacing and, just as importantly, contained
the necessary hunger and desire which has not always been evident in recent
games.
Yorke and Collymore were a threat throughout and Staunton was impressive at
the back and when venturing forward before having to make a premature exit
through injury.
The game got off to an explosive start with two yellow cards and Grayson's
goal inside the first four minutes.
Both sides were fired up and referee Neil Barry cautioned Peter Butler and Ian
Taylor after they were in a flare-up.
But then Villa were given the dream start they had been looking for after last
weekend's debacle with an explosive goal from Grayson.
Lee Hendrie had a shot blocked after Collymore flicked on a corner from Mark
Draper but Grayson made no mistake with a rising effort from 15 yards out which
flew past Albion keeper Alan Miller.
Staunton set up several attacks with his raking passes before having to limp
out of the game in the 41st minute.
Draper fired wide from 20 yards when well placed and Hendrie made a chance for
himself by flicking the ball over Shane Nicholson but he then dragged his shot
past the post.
Collymore looked 'up' for the game and one run took him past two defenders
before he sent in an inviting cross which Draper headed wide.
Albion had a fair share of the play territorially but there was a lack of
penetration and their only on-target effort in the opening 45 minutes from
Richard Sneekes was comfortably saved by Bosnich.
But Collymore came within inches of putting Villa further ahead three minutes
before the interval when his curling effort from the edge of the area rebounded
off the crossbar with Miller well beaten.
Albion started the second half in more positive vein and Bosnich was fully
tested for the first time when he tipped over a powerful Hughes effort following
a mistake by Gareth Southgate.
But Villa gradually regained the upper hand and they effectively ended the
game as a contest with two goals from Yorke in three minutes.
In the 61st minute Yorke beat the offside trap to seize onto a long pass from
Gary Charles and kept his composure to flick the ball wide of the exposed
Miller.
Then another long pass out of defence found its way to Yorke who was able to
turn past Shaun Murphy before planting a left-footed effort into the roof of the
net.
Villa were now rampant and in the 72nd minute it was Collymore's turn to get
on the score-sheet.
He had acres of space on the left and was able to cut into the area before
planting a shot past Miller from a narrow angle for his fifth goal since his £7
million summer move from Liverpool.
Aston Villa: Bosnich, Wright, Staunton (Charles 41), Southgate,
Ehiogu, Grayson, Taylor, Draper, Hendrie, Yorke, Collymore.
Subs Not Used: Joachim, Nelson, Hughes, Oakes.
Booked: Taylor.
Goals: Grayson 4, Yorke 62, 64, Collymore 72.
West Brom: Miller, Holmes, Nicholson, Sneekes, Murphy, Dobson,
Butler (Evans 69), Hamilton (Coldicott 78), Hughes (Flynn 78),
Hunt, Kilbane.
Subs Not Used: Burgess, Crichton.
Booked: Butler, Nicholson.
Att: 39,372
Ref: N S Barry (Scunthorpe).
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