Lamptey strikes to seal point at Villa Park

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Aston Villa 2, Albion 2: Adingra and Lamptey on target as Albion pick up a deserved point.

Charlie Hanson

2024-12-30T21:50+00:00

Tariq Lamptey fired in his second goal of the month to ensure Albion came away with a point from Villa Park. 📷 by James Boardman.

Tariq Lamptey ensured Albion took a point from their final game of 2024 with a wonderful volley in a 2-2 draw at Villa Park on Monday.

The Ghanaian struck with ten minutes to play - with his second goal of the month - after Simon Adingra had opened the scoring in the first half. Villa hit back through Ollie Watkins' controversial penalty and Morgan Rogers' effort just after the break but Albion rallied in the final 20 minutes and deserved their reward.

Looking to halt a run of six without a win, Fabian Hurzeler made four changes from the goalless draw against Brentford with Lamptey, Igor Julio, Yasin Ayari and Adingra coming in for Joel Veltman, Pervis Estupinan, Matt O’Riley and Kaoru Mitoma.

A clash of heads between Joao Pedro and Boubacar Kamara in the first minute saw the Brazilian wear a bandage on his head for the rest of the game, although the knock didn’t appear to have impacted his game though as he played a pivotal role in the opener. Lewis Dunk’s ball over the top of the Villa defence was flicked down by the former Watford man for Adingra to take a touch and then curl into the bottom right corner with 12 minutes played.

Simon Adingra's goal was his first in the Premier League since the opening day of the campaign. 📷 by James Boardman.

Emi Martinez gave a glimpse as to why he's the current holder of the Yashin Trophy when he got a touch on a Julio Enciso ranger, before Jan Paul van Hecke nodded narrowly wide from the resulting corner.

Then came the controversy. Video assistant referee Gavin Ward was called upon after van Hecke slid in on Rogers in the Albion box, but the Dutchman won the ball and Ward backed up the on-field decision of referee Craig Pawson to award a corner.

Albion’s luck ran out a minute later though when Joao caught Rogers as the pair challenged for the ball. Pawson initially waved play on but, after a long VAR check, was sent to the monitor to watch back the action. He needed several minutes to make his decision, before pointing to the spot.

Craig Pawson was at the monitor for a long time before awarding Aston Villa a penalty. 📷 by James Boardman.

Watkins’s penalty was a lot less complicated than the decision to award the spot-kick, as he rolled the ball into the bottom left corner.

While 12 minutes of stoppage time didn't yield another goal, it only took two minutes of the second half for Villa to take the lead. Rogers brought the ball down in the box and slotted it into the bottom left corner after Watkins' lofted pass had taken out a handful of yellow shirts.

Albion were in a slump that needed arresting so Hurzeler called for the cavalry, introducing Georginio, Mitoma and Minteh just before the hour.

Mitoma came close to making an immediate impact when his interception played in Joao, but under pressure he blazed over from inside the box.

Minteh was next to threaten as he dragged a shot wide from 20 yards before Albion found a leveller.

Lamptey's December showreel of strikes was added to with his latest pearler. The full-back got the attack going with a typically rapid burst down the flank before playing in-field to Joao. He played a one-two with Mitoma before flicking it up just inside the box for Lamptey to rifle home on the volley from 20 yards.

O'Riley's flick from Jakub Moder's cross was deflected narrowly over before Ollie Watkins blazed over in the dying moments of a breathless encounter which ended deservedly with a point apiece.

Albion: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Dunk, van Hecke, Igor Julio, Baleba (Moder 86), Ayari (O'Riley 69), Gruda (Georginio 58), Enciso (Mitoma 58), Adingra (Minteh 58), Joao Pedro.