I have to be honest, I’m sure I was not in the minority when I thought we had very little hope of getting anything today against a Man City side that are amongst the favourites to win the league.
It was a very subdued Villa Park in the first half, where it seemed things were going to plan, with City being massively dominant all over the pitch.
We were conceding corners left, right and centre, but in fairness, I thought the five at the back was actually working quite well and we held out until the last minute of the first half.
It’s inevitable that if you conceded what was I think the 9th corner, you’re most likely going to concede a goal.
And so it came, with some poor defending. Toure got it and the lead was deserved, albeit somewhat heartbreaking. The difference between 0-1 and 0-0 really is big psychologically, I reckon.
What really disappointed me was the lack of creativity that we demonstrated. Not a shot on target and very little to judge Weimann and Kozak on.
That was no doubt down to the 5 at the back (even though we don’t set up to defend, of course).
One down then and I fully expected City to unleash hell, which would result in the shoeing many of us expected.
But it seems Villa hadn’t read the script and El Ahmedi hit a nice finish to equalise.
Undoubtedly offside, but who cares? we could do with some luck.
It didn’t last long though and Dzeko re-gained the lead for City from another corner, which had me thinking the onslaught would now surely come.
And then Bacuna hit an absolute peach of a free kick, where I suspect the City wall was expecting a screamer from Vlaar. Whatever, I don’t know if that was a deliberate tactic, but it worked nicely.
It really was as good a free kick as I’ve seen in a while and would have had the media wetting themselves had it come from a sky 4 player.
And then, another goal via the unlikeliest scenario.
Guzan punted long, the City defence totally made a mess of it and Weimann flicked it past Hart for the winner.
I was totally shocked, as we don’t do long ball remember, but what the heck, I can forgive the abberation.
Of course, it was all City again after that, but we again held on to get the result.
If I was Pellegrini, I’d have been fuming, as City really didn’t look anywhere near as good as they do on paper.
I’ve said on here a few times that it’s not so much about playing really well that gets you success; it’s more about dragging results out.
As unlikely as it seemed, we quite simply did that today.
I’m sure some of you will have plenty to say about the performance though, as the truth is, I remain totally unconvinced and that Villa teamsheet looks oh so average.
Still, a very handy three points and again I’m a happy bunny.
We will NOT be relegated
P and P 🙂
Fuck me you and Robbo back in 2 days it must be a good omen lol
Ooh, I thought when we equalised you were gonna be right with your earlier prediction, how wrong was I with mine………
Anyone can see the negatives and positives from the game, but as a pure STH and fan I dont care we actually won a home game in front of 34,500, and it was defning for the last 10 mins, and I sit right by the away fans
I wanna say thank you to the whole team great effort.
Only here to silence the whingers…. And yes I know thats not possible!
We will NOT be relegated
P and P 🙂
No whingers tonight Langford even I’m celebrating what a result
Hello Langford and Robbo too.
Good to have you both back.
I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away for long.
Brilliant result today eh?
Badger what a result vlaar motm IMO I always said he was a great centre half…didn’t I :-)!
pmsl……
Happy days lads
Great team spirit and bottle to come back twice from behind…… Just look at the way Manure folded after going down 1 0 to City last week. Plenty to be proud of. And oohah, both Manchester clubs have poor defences on recent evidence, so give ours a break?
We will NOT be relegated
P and P 🙂
I am going to get absolutely plastered in about an hours time
Why wait that long lol
Well Langford I love this playing crap and winning mentality we suddenly found. Rather that then have the unlucky losers tag eg Chelsea game.
Agreed oohah… Some prat on tv spouting 67% possession for Citeh…. I say, give me 33% possession and a win every week and I will be well happy!
We will NOT be relegated
P and P 🙂
For once we agree Langford possesion dosnt win games goals do and we got 3 they got 2. I rest my case
The BRILLIANT VILLA B’S Benteke and Bacuna! Bend it like BACUNA!
I’m already five pints in and counting, the wife is already looking deeply unhappy.
I think the most important thing today was Andi’s goal. We need him scoring and we need his confidence high. Not to say the defending, spirit, other goals etc weren’t massively important, it’s just that after that fantastic goal Andi scored (was it in pre-season?) he’s not scored again. He seems to need the confidence boost and hopefully this will get him up and firing on all cylinders.
I like Lowton but Bacuna is staking his place isn’t he?
Bacuna plays better in that midfield role
I thought he was playing RB? Shows how much I was paying attention.
Badger……my £50 is looking safe at the moment don’t you think. 😉
Oohah, you two-faced bastard! 🙂
B6, I genuinely hope you win our bet mate. Totally chuffed today.
Still questions remain, but as I keep saying, the points are all that matter to me.
I’ll happily do what Man U did last season; ie win when you shouldn’t.
Badger, tbh mate I don’t give a toss who wins it cause Acorns will be benefiting either way mate. I agree with you about questions still remain but it’s a fantastic day so lets enjoy it. 🙂
Absolutely no idea how we won that today, but what a great result!
Kompany said after the game, if we played that game ten times, we would win nine times out of ten…and to be fair you can see his point!!
We had 33% possession and no more than 8 shots but still managed to bang in 3 goals!
Great to see Weimann get a goal, hopefully will boost his confidence. Bacuna had a great game, superb free kick and assist, and nice to see Sylla back getting stuck in against very good opposition.
No they wouldnt Benno…..you cant simplify football in that way mate. And who gives a flying fuck how much possession they had? There is only one stat that counts and thats the number of goals scored by the two teams!
We WILL not be relegated!
P and P 🙂
Oh give it a rest Langford. Great result boys! Sexy football is back!
A somewhat ironic reply FB.
One that means I’ve got my eye on you, even more so because I don’t like your username.
Yes, good points Benno.
I’m always happy to see Weimann score, as I really like the kid and think he’s progressing very nicely in areas away from scoring. His effort and off the ball work continue to impress me and getting him signed up again was, in fairness, great work by the club.
Kompany, (how I’d love to see the likes of him down the Villa, Yaya too) was spot on in his assessment, imo.
For me badger I was chuffed wienann scored if anyone deserves and needed a goal it was him.
Agreed, Oohah, but Weimann has more to him than just scoring, imo.
I’m sure Lambert sees this too.
He could be the long term player “in the hole”, imo, as he has the nous and the forethought.
Remember you read it here first, lol 🙂
No you didn’t, I’ve been saying it for ages! He does, after all, wear the number 10 on his back.
Agree badger
{EDIT} (Badger)
Post stolen and given a thread of it’s own.
If I’m out of order, let me know Darren and I’ll reinstate it mate.
Darren… Agree with most of that mate. What makes the victory even sweeter is that we were without our 3 best outfield players IMO … Benteke, Gabby and Okore.
Back to back league wins !!!
They came
They saw
WE CONQUERED
How?? Who gives an effing shite how..!!!
First half dreadful, 2nd half wonderful from the whole team…!!
Great to see VP back in full voice, which relayed onto the pitch..Well played all..!!!
Bacuna the magnificent has that spot nailed dowm now imo.
So happy that on the way home I stopped off to surprise the missus with a Tesco Indian in a box feast…. Us East Anglian Lions know how to treat a lady!!
FECKING MARVELOUS
I have nothing to say
a great day and like most I expected nothing less than a comfortable city win, my main worry was our width or lack of it as opposed to city and we went 5 at the back or 3 with wing backs whichever way you wanna call it but luna and baccuna sat well deep most of the game which as imo the only way we could play the game, it would mean that city would dominate but I thought it our only real option so kudos for lambert on that one.
even that said at half time I just couldn’t see us scoring and tbf I don’t think anyone else could either. the effort got us there which is so nice for us and for football that a bunch of underated youngsters can out effort a bunch of over paid individuals, we did not roll over and die even when the 2nd went in for city and they just didn’t expect that.
bonus that hart was shite, he’s half the keeper he was at blues and hodgson should consider replacing him as englands number one, the dandruff big headed overated butterfingers he is.
wba’s foster for England number 1!
great and happy day for villans 🙂
What a day villa win and my brother baby born a new villian is born and brought us the luck we needed woohoo
Congratulations uncle, villa1996
Congrats! They’re never too young to be a Villain 🙂
http://shop.avfc.co.uk/shop/aston-villa-baby-bodysuits-2-pack-claretandblue/index.html
Well would you believe it. We closed them down giving them little time to settle. Kozak seems to be settling into his role well, could be he will settle more quickly than Benteke did. It was good to see Sylla back and he did well. KEA, Delph and Sylla in midfield works well. But I really liked the steel that was on display. Keep this going please. And sitting in the Holte, it was defeaning, first and second half, yes there were quiet periods, but you can’t sing the whole time. Well done you Lions.
Great result today unexpected but very very welcome. The players and staff take a bow
Fantastic result great win.Beat Hull away and we will be in a good position.Better start than i thought given the fixtures.Confidence boosted UTV
Hull away is one I’d expect us to win, but you never know.
They were lucky to beat West Ham, imo.
And yes, you’re right, a better start than expected.
I still think we look very poor at times, but you can’t argue with points on the board.
Goes back to what I keep saying about digging the wins out, I suppose.
West Ham don’t appear to have any strikers. They’re apparently waiting for Carlton Cole to get fit so they can offer him a contract of some kind. I suppose there’s always John Carew…
Carlton Cole?
I vaguely remember this story and can’t believe they still want him.
They released him because he was utter crap, imo.
Talk about clutching at straws.
Surely they could do better by looking around Europe?
Only semi-decent striker that was a free agent was Marica but he’s taken by Getafe. Didn’t Allardyce claim he wasn’t fit enough to play 90 minutes when they looked at him earlier in September? I swear they did. Guess they’re desperate.
Hull City on 10 points is pretty surprising, Bruce has them playing as a team, though they’re not actually that good. They’re getting results as well despite not playing well, only lost once to City. Be a big win before international break if it was too happen and could be 3 wins on the trot.
In the league.
What about Southampton 4th. Fair play to then. I thought they were mad sacking their manager but u have to say they knew what they were doing.
St Marys is about 10 miles from me and I know a lot of Saints fans. My father’s parents were season ticket holders (ironically my father was born in Gravelly Hill) and the way the club has come back from financial ruin and the rise from League 1 has been great. It does seem that there’s a lot up for grabs this season and while I don’t think they can sustain it, while a few of the established PL clubs get their houses in order Southampton will have a bit of fun for a while. Hopefully we will too…
Agree would love a club like saints to finish 4th but no way in a million years will they finish fourth. But coukd be top ten side
Ps at least Sunderland look like they are down already which is good for us as I think we are in a false position at the moment and can be easily dragged back down
Nah, we’re not in a false position. I’m telling you, there’s a severe lack of quality in the EPL and it’s showing. Hell look where Hull City are, I know some had them down for last, getting like 20 points total, and they’re half way there. There’s only two teams I’d ever worry facing and that would be Spurs and City, simply because they have world class players that simply have to get used to each other. Other than that, the lack of quality even at the big clubs isn’t scaring anyone.
Arsenal and Liverpool look good again as well. Always remember teams like utd can go and spend £100 m in Han if they want where we might resign Dawkins!!
I think if ManU are that much in trouble by Jan it will be a manager they’ll be looking for, not any more players.
True but as most people have suspected that without Rvp they are very average.