Aston Villa’s second XI comfortably disposed of Bristol City last night whilst removing an unwanted statistic. 26 Consecutive away games in all competitions without a clean sheet is not something to be proud of, certainly not for a club of our standing and ambition.
I admit to being rather concerned when I saw the team being fielded by Dean Smith – eleven changes from the line up that started against Sheffield United. Where would the goals come from and Elmo at centre back? I feared an(other) embarrassing result against lower league opposition particularly given our poor record against City who had started their season with four straight wins.
I was wrong; 3-0 and it probably should have been more.
We were on our game from the start, pressing high, moving the ball quickly and within 15 minutes 2-0 up and it should have been three. Davis or El Ghazi, on the rebound, should probably have scored but fair play to their GK who kept them out. The two goals though were classy efforts – worthy of a higher stage and both from open play – a refreshing change as the majority of our recent goals have come from set pieces.
Davis’ run into the box and along the goal line – dancing around several City defenders left floundering in his wake – before perfectly putting the ball at El Ghazi’s feet was a good example of why he’s so highly rated at Villa Park. If he can add 10 goals a season to the rest of his game he will be some player.
Two minutes later and Traore scores on his debut with a sublime cushioned volley from Jacob Ramsey’s perfect cross field pass.
We continued to press throughout the half and were, perhaps, unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when Ramsey was brought down when clean through on goal.
Second half we opted to sit back more and play on the break – whether that was a deliberate tactical change by Smith or not is open to debate – but we still created a number of good chances – not taken – until Watkins came on to score with an accurate shot into the bottom corner from a cross field ball by Trezuguet.
Elmo was excellent looking like he’d played at centre-back for years with an assured defensive display and accurate distribution going forward (is he now the ultimate utility player?) but I made Ramsey man of the match. With his darting runs from midfield, so reminiscent of Ian Taylor, and his accurate passing, at 19 he looks every bit a class act for the future and I can see him challenging for an EPL start before the end of the season. I’m not sure that sending him out on loan would be a good move.
It’s been an excellent week for our three debutants and there may still be more additions to come. First impressions are that we have added real quality to the core of a team and are building on the work done over the last twelve months. The Lyon fans, it seems. were pleased to see the back of Traore – as they were when a certain John Carew joined us – and look how that turned out.
It’s been confirmed Samatta has left the club joining Fenerbahce on a four year contract for an undisclosed fee (rumoured to be in the region of £7m}. He was the first Tanzanian player to both play and score in the Premier League having netted on his debut at Bournemouth. Its fair to say that he probably didn’t get the best of opportunities given our position and the onset of Covid but Smith has presumably decided that he’s not going to make it in the EPL.
I wish him all the best at his new club.
So onto Fulham at Craven Cottage, on Monday night, as we continue to play ‘catch up’ in the league.
We haven’t managed an away win in the EPL since Burnley on New Years Day when both Wesley and Heaton were injured, nor do we have a good record at Fulham – last winning there in January 2010. Our last trip to The Cottage ended in a 2-1 defeat in the FA Cup, earlier this year.
Fulham have started with two defeats, shipping seven goals in the process, and will be looking to improve whilst Villa are on a five game undefeated run and will want to continue that and secure another away clean sheet.
A draw would be acceptable but, if we really are going to make progress this season, then this is a game we should be winning.
Comments
107 responses to “An Away clean sheet at the 27th attempt, Samatta leaves and Fulham up next”
Well, stone the crows, we get a VAR decision
Ruled out.
3-0 again.
I wish R5L would concentrate on our game rather than harping on about fecking Pool/Arse.
So disrespectful.
Is your MOTM Targett, Badger? 😁
I just think he’s garbage, Bum Bum.
Our weakest link.
On aside note, I’m sure I saw Sawaris saying “a quarter of a billion and I only get this antiquated wooden seat to sit on?”.
Urgh Jack on goal and slows it down too much again. That should have been 4.
It’s hard to knock him though Tex.
He’s working his guts out. Again.
Come on Villa, Fulham have been on top for about 15 mins. Get a grip and take back control.
Trezeguet really puts a shift in
yes, I like him Hitch and feel he gets overly complained about.
Come on lads, no one needs to be criticized tonight, that was up till now a team effort, I’m not a Targett fan but he’s been average tonight. Im impressed we’ve won praise the the lads for once.
With Grealish being so central, I worry about us being so reliant on him both creatively and psychologically. Maybe we should have taken him off with 20 minutes to go and experimented with a slightly different format.
Agree, Bum Bum, but it’s only because he gets stuck in so much, covering players who don’t work anywhere near as hard as him.
I won’t mention one name in particular.
Yes, we probably should have pulled him early, but I don’t think he’d thank you for it.
In the top 4 – feel a bit giddy!
Great late save by Martinez to keep that sheet clean.
Up to 4th! Champions League here we come! Lol!!!
Yay, a clean sheet on the road for the first time in 27.
Great win, but I thought we took our foot off the gas a bit too much.
It’s always going to happen, but we need to be careful.
Best of all, we’re on a roll.
Didn’t need to do anymore. Professional approach.
Actually I believe our clean sheet at Bristol broke the 26 away games in all completions. Not sure what the Prem League number is – but we didn’t keep a clean sheet last season.
A great result at a bogey ground. Trezeguet and Cash worked their socks off and we only looked threatened down Targetts side. McGinn was better too and good to see Ramsey get a premier league debut. Roll on Liverpool next! 😏
Yes, we’re back, I’ll ask you all did you see that 1-2 pass tonight, no we players the ball forwards and our movement was better, now that’s the type of football I like. Well Done the lads 4 th take a picture two games none against.that means good defence plus goals , its football back.
Only team on the Prem not yet to concede a goal – but different from last season
Great result, and especially good to see McGinn’s performance.
If I have to nit-pick, I’d give Targett a rollocking for his defending – and he didn’t contibute much going forward either…
Such a different side from pre Covid and another change this season……is this down to Shakespeare ?
Probably.
“That one may smile, and smile,and be a Villain” Hamlet Act 1 Sc 5.
Hard to say.
Something definitely changed defence-wise during lockdown, and to my mind Konsa has gotten better with each game and become immense – maybe it’s just the ‘confidence thing’, especially now we seem to have a top-class keeper ?
I think Shakespeare has got something to do with the way villa seem to attack with faster release of the ball plus Watkins with his movements making space for others.
I also noticed that villa got more players into the box tonight midfielder’s getting up in support more. That must be Shakespeare.
Long may it continue utv
Love the Shakespeare connection – very clever 🙂
Last 8 games
W6 D2 L0
5 clean sheets in last 8 games
Whats gone wrong? 🙂
UTV
I’ll probably get slated for this but IMO Trezeguet is a vital part of our team. I appreciate that his football ability is limited but I’ve always loved ‘a grafter’ in our famous C and B shirt. Alex Cropley, Des Bremner, Frank Carrodus, Dennis Mortimer spring to mind.
Great effort by Trezeguet and the team last night. The only player who concerns me at the moment is Targett.
2 games, 4 scored and 0 conceded. Its a joy to wake up and see the League Table this morning!
P.S…as someone posted earlier I’m sure that Shakespeare’s coaching has been instrumental in our good start to the season. Because of that I think we might have the new Vardy in Ollie Watkins.
UTV
**** null and void the season now and we are in the CL****
Targett hasn’t got enough competition for his place.
Much as I appreciate what Neil Taylor’s done during his time at Villa, I think we really need an upgrade at left-back – if nothing else than to keep Targett on his feet.
You won’t get slated by me Charlie.
I like the bloke and feel he certainly has more to contribute than some.
Oh Charlie, can you confirm that your posts are working ok now and they don’t still go into moderation?
General question;
Tbh, I know Craig Shakespeare is massively popular because he’s a Villa fan, but I don’t have a clue what he actually brings to us.
I assume it’s good coaching, but what exactly is the evidence for this?
“B’ham Live” had a good piece on Shakespeare earlier today, but I can’t fnd it at the moment. It seems he ‘drills’ the troops before kick-off, and seems to be a bit of a disciplinarian.
Yes Badger. Posts getting through ok now. Thank you
Shakespeare was ‘very’ instrumental in Leicester winning the title. Hence why I mentioned him in the sentence about Vardy and Watkins. In short, he got the Leicester team playing a system that best suited Vardy. I believe we are trying the same with Watkins (in some games), especially the ‘winnable’ ones! Just my opinion of course!
i have been really busy i even missed the first two goals and most of first half. but i have watched it all back in its entirely. i thought it was a professional job by us and the first two games had to be 3 points cause i believe they both are in real danger this season. both sheff utd and fulham are below the premiership standards. its hard on utd but they have inferior players last year they massively over achieved. but the surprise element has gone so i expect them down. fulham play decent stuff but as we found out last season where it matters in this league is up front and in your own box, fulham can not defend or score enough to cancel the goals they concede.
take a breathe, as for Shakespeare he is not the reason we are better or the sole reason. villa have found the formula during the lock down. the penny dropped as they say. before that we were very unlucky in lots of games. injuries totally ruined us. but the lock down came and they got togther and worked out why we made mistakes.
having survived and the arrival of Shakespeare, along with new players plus the players from last season have now learned their lessons. this all stands us in very good shape for this season. but lets keep our feet on the ground we only beaten two teams that are gonna be in and around the relegation.
the team is so hungry to prove they are good enough and i like this and our new found mentality to win, liverpool next in league will be a much sterner test. but we will never be more confident as we are now. we are in great shape
Didn’t Shakespeare have a go in the hot seat when Ranieri was unceremoniously dumped and didn’t do very well.
Some will always be greats number twos, like Mike Phelan and that’s no insult! It sounds like he’s doing a great job!
yeah he was caretaker for a foxes. not sure how it went. but no doubt he is a fine coach and he will add to our backroom. i like to think they all add something. bigger fish to fry for us before we can single one of the coaches for a knighthood.
i also believe we are handling the situation of no fans better than other clubs. personally i hate this b/s ko times. they do not give fans enough time to get home and settle down, 5 45 ko is silly why can we not all kick off sat same time
The Villa-Fulham game was moved back to 17:45 so that the L’pool-Arse game could also be moved back – idea was that the latter game had to finish before the 10:00 pm pub-closing curfew..
Football with no fans really won’t survive very long, even with the PL clubs getting TV money; lower leagues (inc. Championship) are already hanging by a thread.
Barkley signed on season long loan!!!