Aston Villa 1 Litex Lovech 1:ONE GLANCE at Villa Park's North Stand serves as a reminder of which club won the European Cup in 1982.
In the context of that triumph, immortalised by a banner containing the commentary that accompanied Peter Withe's winner in the final, qualification for the group stages of the Uefa Cup scarcely ranks as an achievement.
When the unheralded Bulgarians of Litex Lovech emulated the Icelandic part-timers of Hafnarfjordur in securing a draw last night it was still less impressive. Yet Villa could derive satisfaction from Marlon Harewood's superlative first goal of the season and from the fact that progress was achieved by a side shorn of Martin Laursen, Gareth Barry, Nigel Reo-Coker, John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Six alterations were made by Martin O'Neill, with his two costliest recruits of the summer introduced, meaning a second and third start respectively for James Milner and Carlos Cuellar.
The last time O'Neill deviated from his strongest side Villa were eliminated from the League Cup by Queens Park Rangers. For Harewood that represented a spurned opportunity. Villa's perennial substitute made more of this opening however, even if his initial contributions were less promising. Two chances - a scuffed shot and an effort that was deflected over - boded ill but a goal of genuine quality rendered them irrelevant.
Seizing on a headed flick-on by Ashley Young, Harewood was strong enough to resist the attentions of Plamen Nikolov and his shot was too fierce for Todor Todorov, the visiting goalkeeper.
There were other players plucked from the fringes in search of milestones.
Moustapha Salifou twice came close to opening his Villa account, first when the Togolese midfielder narrowly cleared the crossbar, after Cuellar headed a corner into his path, and then from distance.
But Salifou is an exception. Villa are renowned for their policy of buying British and indeed the more cosmopolitan collection of players were fielded by Litex, including a trio born in South America. Tom - a mundane moniker for a Brazilian to adopt - was particularly prominent, showing himself to be an enthusiastic dribbler.
Villa should have had a second when Ashley Young meandered his way infield from the left, strolling past defenders, before casually rolling his shot wide. Litex benefited from the reprieve and from a run of similar skill Tom evaded Nicky Shorey before being chopped down by Cuellar. Wilfred Niflor took the resulting penalty and the Frenchman held his nerve to beat Friedel from 12 yards.
Villa appeared less calm in the aftermath of the equaliser and Niflor had an opportunity to panic them further. However, he snatched at an attempted lob.
Ashley Young, who rattled the post, could have made the closing minutes more comfortable.
ASTON VILLA:Friedel; L Young, Knight, Cuellar, Shorey; Routledge, Petrov, Salifou, Milner; A Young (Osbourne 85); Harewood. Subs not used: Guzan, Laursen, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, Reo-Coker, Gardner.
LITEX LOVECH:Todorov; Manolev, Barthe, Nikolov, Zanev; Berberovic; Tom (Angelov, 78), Sandrinho, Popov (Du Bala, 85), Dudu (Tzetanov, half-time); Niflor. Subs not used: Golubovic, Acedo, Bibishkov, Tsvetkov.
Referee:T Chapron (France).
Guardian Service
