Angel soars but Villa are grounded

Asont Villa will require considerably greater heavenly intervention than a two-goal Angel if they are to survive the UEFA Cup first round.

John Gregory?s men must also show they have learned a lesson in European smash-and-grab tactics when they go to Barazdin next week smarting from a disappointing first-leg defeat at Villa Park.

Gregory gambled last night on leaving out experienced campaigners like skipper Paul Merson, England midfielder Lee Hendrie and veteran Dion Dublin ? then suffered the consequences as Villa were sunk by the unfamiliar Croats of Varteks.

Villa?s embarrassment was eased only by a second-half double strike from Colombian Juan Pablo Angel.

Even Gregory himself admitted:?We?ve left ourselves with a great deal to do but having worked hard to get this far, we?re not about to give up without a fight.? The big question for Villa fans will be whether Gregory underestimated the Varteks threat.

But Gregory insisted: ?I did not take them lightly. We expected a difficult game but I believed that I had selected a Villa side who were capable of winning on the night. ?I have to admit it did not go according to script but you have to keep things in perspective. ?We have a lot of good players at Villa and they all have their opportunity to perform. I also have to bear in mind the Premiership. ?I had made changes previously this season and they worked out fine ? but not on this occasion.? Clearly Gregory?s rotational system flopped badly. His side missed the guile of Merson and the industry of Hendrie.

But the biggest disappointments were centre backs Olof Mellberg and Alpay Ozalan.

They have been formidable in the Premiership but were torn asunder by the swift movement and counterattacks of Varteks, who scored through Sasa Bjelanovic in the 44th and 86th minutes and Veldin Karic in the 64th. Those goals were countered by Angel in the 54th and 70th minutes but Villa are now faced with having to win at least 2-0 in Croatia. Gregory is not ready to give up. He said: ?I still feel we have goals in our side. We will take a positive attitude in the second leg because we have worked hard to get this far.?