With three minutes to go, the score at 1-1, and his side on the brink of slipping deeper into the relegation zone, the ball falls to Matt Lowton; arguably the most maligned player in a much-maligned Aston Villa side.
He controls the ball on his chest and swipes an audacious right-footed volley from 30 yards. It swerves, dips and finds the top corner, beating a despairing Asmir Begovic in the Stoke goal.
That one incredible strike could reignite Aston Villa’s stuttering campaign.
It moved them three points above Wigan – who slipped into the bottom three – and Sunderland. Aston Villa now sits in 16th position on the table.
It also came at what many believed was the end of a mini-resurgence from Paul Lambert’s side. Previously, they had beaten Reading and QPR before challenging Liverpool at Villa Park. Only a second-half fadeout against the Reds cost them from moving further from trouble.
Villa now has several winnable games to finish the season. They face Fulham at home this weekend before taking on Sunderland, Norwich and Wigan, to round out the year.
With Christian Benteke firing and several young names beginning to find their feet in the Premier League, Lambert’s men could hang on.
Staying at the bottom of the Premier League, Shaun Maloney’s 94th minute free kick could prove just as pivotal for Wigan as Lowton’s goal for Aston Villa.
Maloney’s set-piece strike fired Wigan to a 1-1 draw at QPR, leaving the Rangers seven points from safety. Although it didn’t move the Latics from the drop zone, it put them level on points with Sunderland. They still sit in the bottom three, but only on goal difference.
QPR face a tough trip to Everton this weekend, while Wigan is on its way to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final against Championship side Millwall.
The North-East will stage one of the most important Tyne-Wear derbies in living memory on Sunday when Newcastle hosts Sunderland at St James’ Park.
Newcastle is currently 13th on the table, but sits only five points above the relegation zone, and fierce rivals Sunderland.
The Black Cats travelled to Stamford Bridge last weekend and were impressive against Chelsea. However, two unlucky goals in the second half cost Sunderland what would have been a valuable three points.
Manager Paolo Di Canio has had another week to instill his philosophies into his new side. Whether or not they will hold up in the ferocious melting pot of a Tyne-Wear derby remains to be seen.
The weekend’s other FA Cup semi-final pits Chelsea against Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday. It should be a fantastic contest, with the winner likely to go into the final as favourites.
Manchester City – fresh off a 2-1 win at Old Trafford against Manchester United last week – should be too good for a tired Chelsea side still competing in three separate competitions.
There are also crucial midweek ‘catch-up’ fixtures that could impact European placings at the end of the season. Arsenal host Everton at the Emirates, while Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are in action on Tuesday evening.
Predictions (AEST)
Sunday April 14 at 12.00am
Arsenal 3-0 Norwich
Aston Villa 2-1 Fulham
Everton 2-0 QPR
Reading 0-2 Liverpool
Southampton 1-1 West Ham
Sunday April 14 at 2.15am (FA Cup)
Millwall 1-2 Wigan
Sunday April 14 at 9.00pm
Newcastle 2-1 Sunderland
Sunday April 14 at 11.05pm
Stoke 0-2 Manchester United
Monday April 15 at 1.00am
Chelsea 1-3 Manchester City
Tuesday April 16 at 4.45am
Arsenal 2-0 Everton
Wednesday April 17 4.45am
Manchester City 3-0 Wigan
West Ham 0-1 Manchester United
Wednesday April 17 at 5.00am
Fulham 1-2 Chelsea
Riley Beveridge is a second-year Bachelor of Sports Journalism student at La Trobe University. You can follow him on Twitter: @RileyBev.
