Taylor strikes late to stun Reds

Aston Villa midfielder Ian Taylor dealt Liverpool's championship hopes a massive blow by grabbing a late winner in the Premiership clash at Villa Park. Taylor, a lifelong Villa fan, grabbed his third and most important goal of the campaign seven minutes from time to give Villa a 1-0 win. A left-wing centre from Villa skipper Andy Townsend picked him out at the far post and he had time to steady himself before firing past David James. It gave Villa's hopes of qualifying for Europe a massive boost but also means that Manchester United remain four points clear at the top of Roy Evans' side. Taylor's goal also enabled Villa to put their Liverpool hoodoo behind them after a run of four successive defeats at the hands of the Reds in which they had conceded 11 goals and not managed one in reply.

But it left Liverpool reflecting on an incredible miss by the normally deadly Robbie Fowler 14 minutes from time. Steve McManaman nodded a Jason McAteer cross in the path of 22-goal Fowler but from three yards out he volleyed over the bar.

Villa just about deserved their victory after creating more openings but the game generally failed to live up to expectations. There was plenty of commitment and endeavour from both sides but a lack of star quality and long periods of scrappy play. But that will not worry Villa manager Brian Little whose side have recovered from their poor run over Christmas and New Year with 10 points from the last four games.

Villa were first to settle and Ian Taylor should have done better when he latched onto an inswinging Andy Townsend corner but he directed his header wide.

Former Liverpool star Steve Staunton then burst into the penalty area after a neat one-two with Taylor but a fine tackle by Bjorn Kvarme halted him in his tracks.

Liverpool keeper David James then had to beat out a fierce drive from Dwight Yorke after he had accelerated past Stig Bjornebye and Dominic Matteo.

Liverpool weathered the early pressure and Stan Collymore should have given them the lead after latching onto a through ball from Collymore. But, as Mark Bosnich advanced quickly off his line, Collymore chipped the ball over the Villa goalkeeper and over the bar.
Play became very scrappy in the second part of the opening 45 minutes but Liverpool came close to breaking the deadlock a minute before the interval.

Fowler got clear on the left flank and there was no need for Bosnich to commit himself by hurtling out of the penalty area.
It left Fowler with an opportunity to fire towards an unguarded goal from a narrow angle but Gareth Southgate was able to race back and clear off the line.

Villa, who replaced the injured Staunton with debutant David Hughes at half-time, again made most of the running during the early phases of the second period with wing-back Fernando Nelson more prominent.

A 25-yard drive from Townsend flew a foot wide and then James beat out a Mark Draper volley while McManaman made a last ditch tackle to deny Taylor as he prepared to latch onto a centre from Nelson. But all those attempts to break the deadlock paled compared with that. 

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