[Eaglesfan27]

Just before the game, Thomas Heaton agreed to go on loan to Cardiff.

1st minute: McFadden dribbles up the left side of the pitch.. he passes it to Djemba in the middle of the box.. hard shot.. upper left corner.. the keeper dives.. and saves it.

11 minute mark: McFadden steals it from the defender in the box.. shoots.. the keeper blocks it.

12 minute mark: Downing passes it to Djemba in the outer edge of the box.. he shoots.. the keeper punches it over the bar.

13 minute mark: Sychev shoots from 25 yards out.. it deflects off Brown.. and veers into the right side of the net. Howard had no shot once it took that deflection. GOAL. Down 1-0.

27 minute mark: Downing passes to Fletcher on the edge of the box.. hard shot.. upper right corner of the net.. the keeper with a brilliant parry of that shot.

40 minute mark: Chivu with a long pass from midfield into the left edge of the box.. Smith gets to it.. dribbles to his right.. shoots.. lower left corner.. the keeper dives.. it is out of his reach.. GOAL!!!! 1-1.


We put the pressure on them in the last 10 minutes.


Halftime: 1-1 tie. They have over 30,000 fans here today.

49 minute mark: Eagles gets the ball at midfield.. passes it to McFadden just outside the box.. he shoots.. a good curving shot.. into the left half of the goal! GOAL!!!! 2-1.

55 minute mark: Downing dribbles down the left sideline.. beats three defenders.. crosses to McFadden in the left half of the box.. he shoots.. over the bar.

80 minute mark: Downing crosses to Djemba who is by the left post.. he hits it on the half-volley.. wide left.. embarassing miss.


Game over. 2-1 win for us.

We outshot them 17-9 (9-4 on target)

McFadden wins MoM, 10 for form, 24 of 31 passes, 0 tackles, 1 of 10 headers, 2 interceptions, 10 runs, 2 fouls drawn, and 1 goal.

Downing had a 9. The rest of the team had 8's except for Howard who had a 7.