O'Neill victorious on Filbert Street return
Gabriel Agbonlahor's last-gasp winner broke Leicester hearts
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Tuesday, 24, Oct 2006 09:48
Martin O'Neill enjoyed a rapturous reception at former club Leicester City before leading his new employers Aston Villa to a 3-2 win in a typically full-blooded and dramatic Midlands derby.
The Northern Irishman had previously led the Foxes into the top flight and to two League Cup triumphs, but their interest in this year's competition is over due to an extra-time winner from starlet Gabriel Agbonlahor.
The game had barely settled into any sort of rhythm when Juan Pablo Angel met a low cross from the Agbonlahor to put the visitors into the lead.
Stilian Petrov stung the palms of Paul Henderson with a long-range effort before the visitors' Colombian frontman nearly doubled Villa's lead as his header rattled the bar as Villa enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges.
But Richard Stearman showed some of the fighting spirit that O'Neill made the club famous for still remained as he equalised five minutes before the break.
Gareth McAuley's free-kick found a way through a packed penalty area and an unsighted Stuart Taylor could only weakly parry the ball into the path of the oncoming defender.
Their parity was short-lived though as Villa again caught their hosts napping as the half came to an end.
Petrov was brought down McAuley and Gareth Barry stepped up to confidently convert the resultant penalty.
But the Foxes responded again when Patrick Kisnorbo met a Momo Sylla corner with a bullet header to level the game, before Sylla apparently undid his good work conceding an injury-time penalty for a foul on Chris Sutton.
But Henderson plunged down to push away Barry's blasted effort, leaving Agbonlahor to win the plaudits with Leicester seconds away from a return tie at Villa Park.