Staunton revives happy memories

Aston Villa 3 FC Zurich

Aston Villa recalled one of last season's happier days in scoring three times to reach the semi-final of the Intertoto Cup yesterday. It was the first time Villa Park had seen them run up such a tally since last October, on the day they beat Bolton Wanderers to go to the top of the Premiership.

Goals by two players making home debuts, Michael Boulding and the Swedish international Marcus Allback, cancelled out FC Zurich's lead from the first leg, and Steve Staunton, returning after an inspiring World Cup as Ireland's captain, headed the third. They will only have three days to recover, however, before the next test, almost certainly away to Lille.

A year ago, under John Gregory, Villa came through three rounds, including one of the competition's three "finals", only to blow out in the first Uefa Cup round against the humble Croatians of Varteks. In the meantime they had beaten Liverpool and held Manchester United, presaging what a mixed season it would be. Gregory's successor, Graham Taylor, has seemed understandably ambivalent about the competition, wanting to think positively but being equally aware of the pressure brought about by extra fixtures.

In the continued absence of Juan Pablo Angel, it was, at the very least, a useful opportunity to assess how well the 6ft 7in striker, Peter Crouch, would dovetail with Taylor's new World Cup striker Allback. Each was heavily involved in bringing their team level on aggregate by the 49th minute. The pairing certainly offered power in the air, troubling a vertically challenged defence several times before a first goal materialised just after the half-hour. Crouch had repeatedly pulled away to the right to win crosses from the other flank, and when he met Gareth Barry's free-kick with a firm header square across the six-yard box, Boulding was the ace in the hole by the far post.

Allback began well with a clever flick for Boulding, who lifted his shot too high, and then a header that was going into the top corner of the net before Miroslav Konig diverted it. The home defence was not often under pressure, though Olof Mellberg's trip on Alhassane Keita might have brought a penalty, and Peter Enckelman needed to make an excellent one-handed stop as Mario Raimondi was played through the middle.

Paul Merson replaced Boulding at half-time, playing just behind the front two, and created the second goal with almost his first intervention. A perfect chip from 25 yards out allowed Allback to volley home a thunderous equaliser.

Staunton, annoyed at conceding a yellow card for shirt-pulling, took retribution after 76 minutes with a thumping header from Thomas Hitzlsperger's corner. An away goal would still have won it for the Swiss, who should have scored one in the last 10 minutes: Enckelman did well once more in denying David Pallas and Daniel Gygax hooked the rebound over a gaping net.

Aston Villa 3 FC Zurich 0
Boulding 32, Allback 49, Staunton 77

Half-time: 1-0 Villa win 3-2 on aggregate