Angel inspires Villa revival

Angel celebrates scoring against Ipswich

Aston Villa 2-1 Ipswich Town
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Two goals from Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel proved decisive as Villa came from behind to defeat Ipswich in a keenly contested match at Villa Park.

Villa, without a win since defeating Bolton on 27 October, often lacked fluency but improved after a lacklustre first-half and deserved their win.

Ipswich, who had taken the lead through Finidi George, remain rooted at the bottom of the Premiership with only one win this season.

  Key moments

18 mins: George scores for Ipswich

44 mins: Angel equalises for Villa

70 mins: Angel scores Villa's winner

With both teams desperate for points the match often had an attritional feel to it.

But Paul Merson was superb for the home team, playing with an intelligence and verve that added real quality to proceedings.

Poor passing characterised the opening phase of the game and it was George Boateng's careless pass that was a prelude to the opening goal.

Ipswich gratefully seized upon Boateng's sloppy attempt to find Steve Stone and broke forward.

Richard Naylor laid the ball off to George, whose long-range shot skimmed across the wet surface and past Schmeichel's despairing dive.

Ipswich almost doubled their lead mid-way though the half, but Jermaine Wright's header from a Chris Makin cross was tipped wide by Schmeichel.

Angel strikes

Villa, despite lacking a cutting edge up front, desperately tried to equalise and were rewarded for their endeavour minutes before the break.

Ipswich goalkeeper Matteo Sereni failed to collect a corner and the Town defence only half-cleared the loose ball.

Steve Staunton knocked a precise ball back into the box and Angel - back in the Villa side - headed home.

Another frustrating night for George Burley

But the goal did not prevent a chorus of boos reverberating around Villa Park following a lacklustre first half.

Villa began the second half with a real sense of purpose and were unlucky not to score after 50 minutes.

Merson chipped the ball over a bewildered Sereni, but could only watch as his audacious effort rebounded off the crossbar.

Ipswich went close with a free-kick from Jim Magilton and a header from Naylor, but it was Villa who scored the third goal of the match.

Angel broke forward and shot from the right of Sereni's goal.

The ball deflected off John McGreal and looped over Ipswich's stranded goalkeeper.

Town went in search of an equaliser but, with George already substituted, lacked potency in attack.

Wright and Jamie Clapham both went close for Ipswich, but they could not find the equaliser they desperately craved.

Aston Villa: Schmeichel, Samuel, Mellberg, Staunton, Wright, Barry, Boateng, Hendrie, Stone, Angel, Merson. Subs: Dublin, Enckelman, Balaban, Vassell, Bewers.

Ipswich: Sereni, Makin, McGreal, Venus, Hreidarsson, Wright, Holland, Magilton, George, Armstrong, Naylor. Subs: Clapham, Counago, Bramble, Branagan, Marcus Bent.

Referee: M Dean (The Wirral)