Well, two goals ahead, playing at home & 90 minutes away from another European semi-final, this time in the Europa League, which some label Unai Emery’s forte. I’ve seen a lot of differing posts, some exclaiming that we are already through and that this will be a walkover, and some making this out to be a very tense night. I can see both sides, personally. Should we be on our A game, I back us to completely dismantle Bologna, as we have seen the three times we have played them already. Have we been known to bottle it in the big games before? Yes, absolutely – we must be completely switched on and fully prepared for Bologna to pose a threat. We do not need to make this difficult, and that is thanks to Ollie Watkins’ late goal at the end of the first leg, but I honestly think in these types of fixtures home advantage does not mean too much.
The record speaks for itself, we have faced Bologna three times in Europe in the last two seasons, with one being last week, and put SIX goals past them whilst only conceding ONE, which was a great goal by, in my humble opinion, the best player across the two sides last Thursday – Jonathan Rowe. My opinion was shared by the majority of the forum, that we should definitely be looking at him in the summer because he looked extremely promising. I actually saw someone on X say we should sell Rogers and get Rowe, and he got laughed at upon making the call… but after Sunday’s showing I really beg to differ, his persistent ball-losing (if that’s a word) was the root of Forest’s equaliser that I saw two metres from me, in row C at the City Ground right behind the goal.
On a personal level, I do believe I am not going tonight unless I get an extreme wave of FOMO in the next few hours and book a ticket, but I simply do not think I can justify paying the extortionate prices they are charging to watch us currently 3-1 up against a team I’ve seen us play twice at Villa Park already in the last two seasons – not if I want a cat in hell’s chance of going to Porto away or Forest away, anyway.
Team news tonight; Martinez I believe is a doubt, but having Bizot in goal doesn’t particularly worry me, I think we have a good back up goalie in Bizot and most importantly I think he would be happy to spend the rest of his career here, he gets a decent amount of minutes for his age, to be fair, and he knows the fans are appreciative of him. I am also reading Mings has picked up a knock but I am not too sure. Sancho and Kamara out again, obviously. As for our Italian counterparts, they have around 3-4 injuries, but I am unsure as to how significant they are. I believe if we take care of their attacking threat then we will be OK.
On the whole, we have a superb chance to progress to the Semi-Finals of the Europa League tonight, and in turn a superb chance to win the competition that we are favourites to win. I would like to see Forest go out tonight, I just don’t think we would benefit from having the unconscious pressure of having another English side in the competition – I honestly don’t think we’d live it down if Forest win it and we don’t.
I am going to be positive and say 2-0 Villa, but this could easily end in us making it difficult for ourselves if we are not on our A game. Play it safe, Villa.
UTV!
Sunderland’s games rarely involve a shed load of goals, so we must be clinical tomorrow afternoon. If we can nullify them as much as we nullified Wet Spam, then we will be fine – if not then we could be in for another 0-1 loss or 1-1 draw. The last thing we need is a dreary afternoon at Villa Park. Would be great if Everton could take points off Liverpool too.
Get your nipple protectors at the ready lads! Big game today!!!!!!
Looking forward to it. Hoping we can get the win we need.
Bournemouth coming on a late run – must be in with a European shout.
Brentford, Chelsea and Bournemouth all on 48 points – another reason to win today; 10 points ahead of the chasing pack with 5 games to go would be a massive statement,
Chelsea should be our only threat. We’ll be fine.
Win today and we’re ten clear of chelsea wow UTMV
Ollliiieeeee!!!!!
Sorry no article for this game. Post match will be up. Great start!
Damn.
Very physical side – we struggle against.
Ha! Touchè!!!
Big strong side, Sunderland, without being dirty.
Good game so far, but we need the 3 points!!
We are the weakest side IN THE WHOLE LEAGUE.
3-1 and joint 3rd says otherwise!!!
Our physicality is pathetic. Our biggest players getting bodied off it by their average sized players. FFS!
Unless we step it up we’re not going to get anything from this game.
Oh shut up you old woman!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Sorry Bum Bum 😂
😁
Ollie’s on fire
Ollliiieeeee!!!
Did anyone else see the attitude on Chesty’s face before that cross?? It was like “Bring it on you motherf***ers”!!!
Always liked Watkins 🤣
A good first half. Sunderland definitely look like a well organised team and it took two excellent crosses to get ahead. McGinn and Watkins both looking sharp. We need to get another in my opinion to win. 10 point gap will more or less cement a top 5 finish and allow Emery to prioritise Europa league which is something Forest can’t.
Chesty obliged!
Everton level!
Alfie, wouldn’t you say Arsenal are the lankiest in the Prem? No meat on them going back to the days of Wenger…
Excellent games from Matson
WE ARE A WEAK SAUCE! FFS!
WTF!!!!!!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Wowzer
I f*king give up – we give away two goals
Sancho can eff off!!!!!!!! 2 mistakes, 2 goals.
How the fuck has that happened ffs