Hmm.
“Sid Cowans love child” suggested my having very little faith in our defence after the Forest game was a bit premature, given that we hadn’t conceded many previously.
How right he was!
In my defence, it was just that I was thinking that we’d find defending against the “better” teams a bit more of a problem, as much as I think we’re excellent in attack.
I didn’t see the game, but managed to listen to the last 15 minutes or so on WM.
And the consensus was that this game was practically easy.
The brief reading I’ve done on here and elsewhere seems to back this up. Which is crazy in a really good way!
Boro had only conceded 10 goals before this, yet we’ve put 3 past them and the commentary was saying that the home team had given up.
It would seem we’ve battered the opposition, away from home, just as we did at Derby.
My god, this excites me.
If we can beat Boro and Derby so easily on their own turf, as well as put 5 past Forest, I have to wonder who there is in this league that we need to be scared of?
Is it new manager syndrome?
I very much doubt it and every game seems to demonstrate more and more how Steve Bruce had totally misread our squad.
Was it because he’d seen the state we were in when he arrived and didn’t trust the players?
Who knows? But he’s looking more like a total mug as every game passes.
I don’t want to get carried away, but things are looking really good at the moment.
I remember saying a few weeks back that we were facing a very tough period of games against local sides and that I was concerned that we’d get very little out of them.
Well, we’ve played a few of them and done very well.
It’s Albion up next, followed by Stoke I think.
If we can get say, 4 points from those 2 games, well even doubtful me would have to concede that we’d have a very good chance of getting promoted. If we were to get 6, we’d be beginning to look invincible, just as Wolves were last season.
Not that I want to run before I walk.
We’ve been kicked in the teeth too many times, haven’t we?
But it just seems to me that even if we do have major doubts at the back, we have the fire power to see our way out of trouble. So much so, that many teams won’t be able to live with us.
“We’ve blown them away” is a comment I saw for tonight’s game and that takes some doing against a Pulis side.
And even if we end up not getting the points we want in the next month, as long as it doesn’t prove disastrous (and I can’t see it), we’re still well in touch with the top group.
I heard a good comment on WM, where it was pointed out that if you need 2 points a game to get promoted, there’s only Norwich that have (just) managed it, up till now.
Our recent history says we’re well on course.
Add a couple of replacements in January, that we all know we need, plus look at the depth of our squad, especially attack-wise and we’re sitting very pretty indeed.
The question that was asked on WM was “Have Villa got a manager who can take them to the Prem?”
I suspect we might well have.
Albion corner.
Nyland goes for it and misses.
Reminds me of Friedal in his early days.
Hutton drives and plays a nice though ball for Abraham, who shoots at the goalie.
Dwight Gale equals it for the Baggies.
1-1
Stupid bloody flick by one of our attackers and we concede from being on the attack
i quite expect that to be a regular occurrence Sid.
To me that’s a pen, did you think Hutton was to far forward for the goal.
Good ball in from Hourihane, but noone attacks it.
Abaham has another chance, but doesn’t hit it clean.
Should probably be 2-1
McGinn hits a screamer and hits the post.
Frantic stuff again.
Rubbish free kick from Albion.
HT. 1-1
and it looks like El Ghazi won’t make the second half as he goes down with some sort of injury.
Barry playing it hard, bad tackle that on McGinn, 1-1 ht.
I think we were the better team first half. We have the same problem as we did against Forest in that they break onto us quickly. Fortunately they haven’t been as productive when they break. We need to carry on playing same way in my opinion and try not to lose possession cheaply.
El Ghazi does come back out.
Good ball in from Albion, but Gayle heads over.
Great block from Hutton.
Ablbion tighening the screw.
Taylor injured and going off.
Looks like Hutton will cover and elmohamady will take the left.
Elmo right, I mean.
Anwar el Ghazi is a liability defending. Taylor is dodgy too so they are really a threat on the flanks. Still there for the taking though.
Actually better for me now Taylor is off
Agreed.
Can’t stand him.
Taylor’s injury looks bad.
hamstring?
El Ghazi screamer.
2-1 Villa.
Well that’s why El Ghazi is in the team. Livermore just a big muscular useless lump as ever, too busy fouling to see the move developing.