Zat Knight

[Freddy Adu]

Zat Knight
Personal information
Full name	Zatyiah Knight
Date of birth	May 2, 1980 (1980-05-02) (age 27)
Place of birth	Solihull, England
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Playing position	Centre Back
Club information
Current club	Aston Villa
Number	16
Youth clubs
1999	Rushall Olympic
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1999-2007 2000 2007-	Fulham → Peterborough United (loan) Aston Villa	150 (3) 008 (0) 005 (1)
National team2
2005	England U21 England	004 (0) 002 (0)

[Freddy Adu]

Knight convinced Villa are Premiership force

Zat Knight is convinced Aston Villa have the Premiership rattled.

Defender Knight says he cannot wait to underline Villa's potential today at their fierce rivals when they visit St Andrews in the Second City derby.

"The boys are doing really well attacking-wise," said Knight, who won his second and last England cap in May 2005.

"There is such a lot of raw talent and the manager is telling the younger players to go out there and do their thing.

"I have played against them myself already this season and they are a nightmare to mark, so everyone at the club is talking about Europe.

"I think that is realistic if we can keep our players fit and add to the squad in January.

"If you look at the players we have brought in I think they are a bit of a steal, with the likes of Ashley Young now in the England squad."

[Freddy Adu]

Villa appeal Knight red card


Written by: AFP

	Referee Phil Dowd (R) gives Aston Villa´s English defender Zat Knight a red card during their Premiership match against Chelsea Stamford Bridge stadium in London. Aston Villa have launched an appeal against Knight´s controversial red card at Chelsea.

LONDON (AFP) - Aston Villa have launched an appeal against Zat Knight's controversial red card at Chelsea.

Knight faces a one-match suspension after referee Phil Dowd dismissed the defender following his foul on Michael Ballack in Wednesday's 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge.

But Villa boss Martin O'Neill is convinced Ballack dived to win the penalty and has asked for the suspension to be overturned.

A statement on Villa's website confirmed: "Villa have officially appealed against Zat Knight's debatable red card at Chelsea."

Knight will learn his fate when the case is heard by the English FA on Friday December 28.

Chelsea midfielder Ballack insisted O'Neill was wrong to accuse him of diving.

"For me there is no discussion about this," he told the Evening Standard. "I had the ball and two guys, not just one, came and one pushed me. It was a clear penalty.

"It wasn't a penalty. The Chelsea player went over and there had been no contact."

[Freddy Adu]

Aston Villa´s Knight loses red card appeal


Written by: AFP

	Referee Phil Dowd (R) gives Aston Villa´s Zat Knight (L) a red card during a Premiership match against Chelsea, December 26. Knight has lost his appeal against his controversial red card. Knight was sent off when he was adjudged to have denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by fouling Michael Ballack in first-half stoppage time of the 4-4 draw.

LONDON (AFP) - Aston Villa defender Zat Knight on Friday lost his appeal against his controversial red card at Chelsea.

Knight was sent off when he was adjudged to have denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by fouling Michael Ballack in first-half stoppage time of the 4-4 draw on Wednesday.

He now faces a one-match ban and will miss Saturday's game against Wigan.

Manager Martin O'Neill told the Villa website: "We are obviously disappointed because we felt we had a case. But we abide by the decision and prepare for tomorrow's important game at Wigan without him."