Aston Villa 2 Ajax 1 - Europa League - 23rd Oct 2008

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill: “We were terrific and fought back magnificently to get ourselves back in front after their equaliser. “In the second half we pressed them higher up the pitch and we took the ball off them. “They are a good side and pass very well indeed but we have excellent players and that should not be forgotten.“ Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Cuellar, Laursen, Shorey, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, Milner, Agbonlahor, Ashley Young. Subs Not Used: Guzan, Sidwell, Harewood, Davies, Knight, Salifou, Gardner. Goals: Laursen 8, Barry 45. Ajax: Vermeer, Silva, Oleguer, Vermaelen, Emanuelson, Lindgren, Sarpong, Vertonghen, Suarez, Huntelaar, Gabri. Subs Not Used: Vonk, Van Der Wiel, Cvitanich, Leonardo, Sno, Anita, Schilder. Goals: Vermaelen 22. Ref: Thomas Einwaller (Austria).