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FA Cup Final 2015
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Gary Neville: Welcome, one and all, to Wembley Stadium! Once again, it is me, Gary Neville, and with me here is former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, part-time media pundit and Colchester United assistant manager.
Jamie Carragher: Glad to be here.
Gary Neville: Loosen up on that Scouse accent today, will you, Carra? Let's get on with the team line-ups.
Aston Villa: Lindegaard; Johnson, Vlaar, Doria, Clark; M'Vila, Lampard, Hughes; Kaka, Nem; Benteke
Preston: Stuckmann; Francomb, Huntington, Cansdell-Sherriff, Laird; Carruthers, Mousinho, Keegan, Buchanan; Beavon, Hume
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Jamie Carragher: Lindegaard starts in goal for Aston Villa as usual and at right-back we have my old teammate Glen Johnson. Vlaar and Doria make up the central defense while Ciaran Clark plays at the left-back position. A very strong defense and Preston will find it extremely hard to break it down. Yann M'Vila will support both the defense and midfield in his role as the defensive midfielder. A very strong defense and Preston will find it extremely hard to break it down.
Gary Neville: Frank Lampard has returned for the FA Cup Final after helping his team beat his former team Chelsea in the Semis. Will Hughes will play alongside him while Kaka and Wellington Nem man the wings.
Jamie Carragher: And lastly, in-form striker Christian Benteke will spearhead the attack. What do you think of David's chosen line-up for today, Gary?
Gary Neville: It obviously shows he is not making the mistake of underestimating Preston. Fabian Delph will miss this match after a very silly dive in Villa's last match against Newcastle, and he will be a big loss for Villa but Frank Lampard and Will Hughes are just as good. I'm just surprised Gary Gardner is on the bench today.
Jamie Carragher: Probably because of his poor performance against Newcastle but I'm certain he'll be coming on as a substitute later on.
Gary Neville: Let's move on to the Preston squad today. Thorsten Stuckmann will play today. He's a very good goalkeeper for Preston and will be doing his best to keep Christian Benteke's shots away from goal.
Jamie Carragher: A four-man back line of Francomb, Huntington, Cansdell-Sherriff, and Scott Laird. Laird will be key to Preston's hopes for victory today, he is a quality full-back. His fellow defenders today are not rotation players either, they are all solid first-team players. Preston boss Steve Cotterill has picked a very strong defensive line.
Gary Neville: Former Aston Villa youth player Samir Carruthers will play against his old team today. John Mousinho and David Buchanan also start the match but I am puzzled over the inclusion of Paul Keegan. He hasn't been on form lately, but then again, Cotterill has a really small squad to work with.
Jamie Carragher: Leading the attack for Preston will be Stuart Beavon and Ian Hume. They have scored 24 goals between them this season, but can they get through a defense of Johnson, Vlaar, Doria and Clark?
Gary Neville: I suppose we will have to wait and see, don't we, Jamie? Right, they are getting in their positions. There goes the referee's whistle. Time for the game!
1' - We kick off here at the Wembley Stadium, with both FA Cup hopefuls Aston Villa and Preston going up against each other.
26' - Ciaran Clark's intended cross for Christian Benteke instead goes past Stuckmann and into the net, but before the Villa players can celebrate, the ref has given a free kick to Preston because of Benteke fouling Stuckmann with a push.
31'
GOAL ![]()
- Will Hughes plays it to Wellington Nem who effortlessly weaves past Preston defenders to coolly slot in a beautiful finish. Aston Villa 1-0 up!
45' - HT: Aston Villa 1 - 0 Preston. A very good match for the Villans so far.
45' - We return to the Wembley Stadium for the second half, and Christian Benteke, who has been ineffective so far, has gone off for Jack Grealish to come in. Wellington Nem will move to play Benteke's position, while Grealish will go to the left wing.
66' - Glen Johnson has picked up a knock from a dirty challenge by Samir Carruthers.
69' - A double substitution from Aston Villa as Frank Lampard and Glen Johnson come off for Gary Gardner and Kolo Toure respectively.
70' - Cotterill also makes a change as Carl Finnigan comes on for Ian Hume.
72'
GOAL ![]()
- Wellington Nem puts in a cross for Gary Gardner who unleashes a powerful strike to keep his side up 2-0, just minutes after his introduction into the match. It seems we won't be seeing a Preston upset today.
90' - FT: Aston Villa 2 - 0 Preston. And Aston Villa have secured the FA Cup! David Beckham's first managerial trophy! Villa's first FA Cup since 1957! Villa supporters will be partying all night!
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Aston Villa 1 - 0 West Ham
Nem
Huddersfield 0 - 0 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 1 - 3 Newcastle
