The 2009-10 season was Aston Villa's 18th season in the Premier League. The 2009–10 Premier League season was Villa's 135th season in English football. It was the club's 99th season in the top-flight and their 22nd consecutive season in the top flight of English football, the Premier League. They were managed by Martin O'Neill – in his fourth season since replacing David O'Leary. The 2009–10 season was Villa's second consecutive spell in European competition for the club, and the first in the newly formatted UEFA Europa League.
This term marked the first for the club without long-term player and former captain Gareth Barry following his £12 million move to Manchester City on 2 June 2009. Barry had been at the club since 1997.
The Birmingham Derby made a return to the Premier League after local rivals Birmingham City were promoted to the top tier. Villa won the first of two fixtures 1–0 at St Andrew's on 13 September 2009 with Gabriel Agbonlahor scoring the winning goal. Villa also won the return fixture at Villa Park 1–0 on 25 April 2010, thanks to a James Milner penalty. Villa also played games against newly promoted Wolves from nearby Wolverhampton, resulting in a 1–1 draw at Molineux and a 2–2 draw at Villa Park.
The club progressed to the final of the League Cup during this season, eliminating Cardiff City, Sunderland, Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers along the way. However, Aston Villa were beaten 2–1 by Manchester United in the final at Wembley Stadium on 28 February 2010. Villa's other domestic cup venture also took the club to Wembley in the FA Cup, where they were defeated 3–0 by Chelsea in the semi-final. Aston Villa finished 6th in the Premier League for the 3rd year in a row, with 2 points more than previous season, they also qualified for the Europa League for the 3rd year running.
Kit Supplier Sponsor Nike Acorns*
First team squad
Left club during season
(on loan to Newcastle United) (on loan to Nottingham Forest and Fulham) (to Birmingham City) (on loan to Middlesbrough) (on loan to Lincoln City and Leyton Orient)
(on loan to Plymouth and Leeds United) (on loan to Blackpool) (on loan to Lincoln City) (on loan to Lincoln City) (on loan to Darlington)
Reserve squad
Kit changes The club once again dismissed sponsorship payments to allow Acorns as a charitable sponsor. A new away kit was unveiled on 24 May 2009 and inspired by the England national football team. It features a white and gray halved style with pinstripes and a navy accent, intended to pay tribute to the 67 Villa players that have appeared for the country while at the club. The blue and black away kit of 2008–09 also became this season's third kit. The new home kit was unveiled the day before the first clash of the Peace Cup 2009, which was against Málaga on Saturday 25 July.
Premier League
Final league position
Results
Results by matchday
Cup matches
FA Cup
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 02/01/2010R3Blackburn RoversH3–125,453Delfouneso, Cuéllar, Carew (pen.) 23 January 2010R4Brighton and Hove AlbionH3–239,725Delfouneso, A. Young, Delph 14 February 2010R5 Crystal PalaceA2–220,486Collins, Petrov 24 February 2010R5 (R) Crystal PalaceH3–131,874Agbonlahor, Carew (2 pen.) 07/03/2010R6 ReadingA 4–223,175A. Young, Carew (3, 1 pen.) 10/04/2010SF ChelseaN 0–385,472
League Cup
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 23 September 2009R3Cardiff CityH1–022,527Agbonlahor 27 October 2009R4SunderlandA0–027,666(Pens: Carew, Collins, A. Young)0–0 after extra time – Aston Villa won 3–1 on penalties 01/12/2009QFPortsmouthA4–217,034Milner, Heskey, Downing, A. Young 14 January 2010Game postponed on 5 January due to bad weatherSF (1)Blackburn RoversA1–018,595Milner20 January 2010SF (2)Blackburn RoversH6–440,406Warnock, Milner (pen.), Nzonzi (o.g.), Agbonlahor, Heskey, A. YoungAston Villa won 7–4 on aggregate28 February 2010FManchester UnitedN1–288,596Milner (pen.)
UEFA Europa League
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 20 August 2009Play-off Round (1) Rapid ViennaA0–117,600 27 August 2009Play-off Round (2) Rapid ViennaH2–122,563Milner (pen.), Carew2–2 on aggregate; Rapid Vienna won on away goals
Friendly matches DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 18 July 2009Peterborough UnitedA3–0Weimann, Davies, Sidwell 21 July 2009Colchester UnitedA2–2 Sidwell, McGurk 04/08/2009Oxford UnitedA0–212,000 08/08/2009 FiorentinaH1–022,915Heskey
Peace Cup
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 25 July 2009Group C MálagaA0–14,000 29 July 2009Group C AtlanteN3–11,000Albrighton, Carew, A. Young 31 July 2009 Semi-Final PortoN2–126,000Heskey, Sidwell 02/08/2009Final JuventusN0–0(Pens: Bannan, Lowry, A. Young, Cuéllar)0–0 after extra time – Aston Villa won 4–3 on penalties
Goalscorers Name Premier League FA Cup League Cup Europa League Total John Carew Gabriel Agbonlahor James Milner Ashley Young Emile Heskey Richard Dunne Carlos Cuéllar Stewart Downing Nathan Delfouneso James Collins Curtis Davies Fabian Delph Stiliyan Petrov Stephen Warnock Opposition own goals Total Goals
Appearances Name League FA Cup League Cup Europe Start Sub. Total Ashley Young James Milner Carlos Cuéllar Stilyan Petrov Gabriel Agbonlahor Richard Dunne Brad Friedel John Carew Emile Heskey Stephen Warnock James Collins Stewart Downing Steve Sidwell Luke Young Fabian Delph Nigel Reo-Coker Nathan Delfouneso Habib Beye Brad Guzan Marc Albrighton Nicky Shorey Curtis Davies Craig Gardner Shane Lowry Ciaran Clark Transfers
Transferred in DatePosPlayerFromFee 20 June 2009 AM Samir Carruthers Arsenal Free transfer 16 July 2009 LM Stewart Downing Middlesbrough £12,000,000 4 August 2009 CM Fabian Delph Leeds United £6,000,000 7 August 2009 RB Habib Beye Newcastle United £2,500,000 13 August 2009 GK Andy Marshall Coventry City Free transfer 27 August 2009 LB Stephen Warnock Blackburn Rovers £7,000,000 1 September 2009 CB James Collins West Ham United £5,000,000 1 September 2009 CB Richard Dunne Manchester City £6,000,000£38,500,000
Loaned in DatePosPlayerFromLoan End
Transferred out DatePosPlayerToFee 1 July 2009 CM Gareth Barry Manchester City £12,000,000 1 July 2009 GK Stuart TaylorManchester CityFree transfer 1 July 2009 CB Martin Laursen Retired 21 July 2009 CF Sam Williams Yeovil TownFree transfer 25 July 2009 CB Zat Knight Bolton Wanderers £4,000,000 26 January 2010 CM Craig Gardner Birmingham City £3,000,000£19,600,000
Loaned out DatePosPlayerToLoan End 5 August 2009 GK David Bevan Ilkeston Town 5 September 2009 18 September 2009CB Shane Lowry Plymouth Argyle 1 January 2010 26 September 2009 CF Marlon Harewood Newcastle United 31 December 2009 26 October 2009 CB Nathan Baker Lincoln City 1 January 2010 26 October 2009 CF James Collins Darlington 22 January 2010 26 October 2009 RB Eric Lichaj Lincoln City 1 January 2010 7 November 2009 CM Isaiah Osbourne Middlesbrough 5 January 2010 19 November 2009 CM Jonathan Hogg Darlington 2 January 2010 24 November 2009 LB Nicky Shorey Nottingham Forest 26 January 2010 26 November 2009 CM Barry Bannan Blackpool 31 May 2010 26 November 2009 CM Chris Herd Lincoln City 26 December 2009 5 December 2009 GK David Bevan Solihull Moors 5 January 2010 30 January 2010 CB Shane Lowry Leeds United 31 May 2010 1 February 2010 LB Nicky Shorey Fulham 31 May 2010 26 March 2010 RB Eric Lichaj Leyton Orient 31 May 2010
Overall transfer activity
Expenditure £38,500,000
Income £19,600,000
Balance £18,900,000
See also 2009–10 in English football List of Aston Villa F.C. seasons
References