Preston – Villa; Yet another important game

Well, they all are, aren’t they?
The fact is that if you want to get promoted, you have to win the majority of your games. It’s as simple as that
Which I suppose makes this one rather interesting, as their record this season only differs from ours because of a draw instead of a win, hence we’re two points ahead of them.
Given that they have home advantage tonight, I guess that kind of equals things out and you could say our records are very similar indeed.
There is a fair old difference though, when it comes to current form. Of the last six games, we’ve taken 13 points from 18, whereas Preston have only taken 6, including two losses in their last two games. They’ve also only won one of their last five.
Advantage Villa then, you would think.
Except we’re away, which is an area that we still need to improve on.

In squad news, it’s the same old, same old, on our part, except it’s looking like Kodjia won’t make it.

As for Preston, they have major problems in defence, where the last I heard their first three choices as centre backs are all out.
Ben Davies is out due to having his appendix removed, Tommy Spurr because of a knee injury and Paul Huntington is out because of the totting-up procedure.

Which all in all, seems even better news for Villa and you would think it’s a great chance for us to beat them, if we take the game to them.
While Kodjia’s important to us, he hasn’t been scoring, so his loss is not the end of the world, for me.

But we’re dealing with Steve Bruce here, where I predict we’re going to be moaning that we didn’t get on the front foot enough.
That’s what you get with Bruce and we all know it.

So, if Kodjia’s out, how will Bruce play this up front?

Davis has to come back in, but do you put him up on his own?
I suspect Bruce might see it as too much responsibility on his young shoulders, although I’d like to see it.

You could play him with Onomah just behind.
Or how about Davis and Hogan? That might work well against a weakened defence.

But I suspect Bruce might play him in the middle of a front three.
We’ll see, no doubt.

Not that it matters massively, in my opinion.

I think the biggest thing stopping us from winning this game will be Steve Bruce himself, with his pragmatic approach.

I think this is a game we ought to be looking to win; an opportunity to take points from a serious competitor on their own turf.
Exactly the sort of result we need, if we have real aspirations of getting promoted.

Will we get it?
My money says no.

1-1, in what will probably be yet another poor spectacle.
Which would be a decent point on the face of it.
But an opportunity missed.

Let’s hope I’m wrong, eh?

29 Comments

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  1. jvillan
    jvillan November 1, 2017 at 7:13 pm . Reply

    well the subs not leaving much hope,no grealish lansby or ohare but 3 defenders jedi and birr

  2. DSVilla
    DSVilla November 1, 2017 at 7:14 pm . Reply

    I agree with your assessment of a draw, but I can’t agree that it would be a decent result. Nothing but a win in this game is good enough.

  3. DSVilla
    DSVilla November 1, 2017 at 7:25 pm . Reply

    Yes we lost 2-0 last year. i would hope we are not seeking to stay at the same level this year though!

  4. jvillan
    jvillan November 1, 2017 at 7:34 pm . Reply

    why when bruce complains about how hard this league is how tiring it is why keep same team week in week out

  5. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 7:45 pm . Reply

    Davis and Onomah behind it is then.

    Agree about changing it up.
    No O’Hare is noticable for me.

  6. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 8:00 pm . Reply

    Yes, Chester header from a corner, 1-0.
    We’ve pissed this up to now.

  7. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 8:18 pm . Reply

    Bruce having a go at Snodgrass.
    Totally agreed, he needs to get more involved.

    1. Tekkers48
      Tekkers48 November 1, 2017 at 8:20 pm . Reply

      He listened

  8. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 8:20 pm . Reply

    yes, Snodgrass !!!
    2-0

  9. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 8:25 pm . Reply

    We need to keep this up and show no mercy whatsoever.
    If we sit sit back and they come back into this, I’ll be calling for Bruce’s head.

    I’m already thinking about De laet getting a runout here.
    All Preston’s play is coming down our right and they’re very limited, imo.

  10. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 8:26 pm . Reply

    Oops.
    Their right and our left, i meant.

    1. OohAhPaulMcGrath
      OohAhPaulMcGrath November 1, 2017 at 8:50 pm . Reply

      I said we need to start Davies away Bruce hasn’t listened he had no choice but Kodja is shit away

      1. badger123
        badger123 November 1, 2017 at 8:55 pm . Reply

        We know what you think.
        You’ve told us about 50 times re Kodjia away.
        You’ve also said Onomah is shit, lots of times. Hmm.

        1. OohAhPaulMcGrath
          OohAhPaulMcGrath November 1, 2017 at 10:06 pm . Reply

          Onomah is shit still don’t rate him

  11. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 8:37 pm . Reply

    Excellent first half, that!

    1. OohAhPaulMcGrath
      OohAhPaulMcGrath November 1, 2017 at 8:49 pm . Reply

      Hope we keep it up if they get one they will get 2. Can we do it both halves for once

      1. Rocky1
        Rocky1 November 1, 2017 at 9:51 pm . Reply

        Ooha great attempt at trying to get a negative from a positive result and stating the obvious.

        1. OohAhPaulMcGrath
          OohAhPaulMcGrath November 1, 2017 at 10:07 pm . Reply

          Ha ha I’m pleased for once great result. I have to say Hutton is brilliant yet again. He’s been our best player over the last 4 games

  12. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 9:00 pm . Reply

    Preston look like they’re seriously struggling.
    I almost feel sorry for them.
    Almost, but not quite.

    1. Andrew
      Andrew November 1, 2017 at 10:13 pm . Reply

      8 injured defenders. Had the best defense in the Championship like 6 games ago. Gotta suck but it’s 3 more points for us.

  13. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 9:12 pm . Reply

    Hogan on for Davis now, for me.

  14. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 9:15 pm . Reply

    Jedinak on for Onomah.
    Shoring it up, Bruce, you gutless get?

  15. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 9:19 pm . Reply

    Yep, Hogan for davis by the looks of it.
    Takes the pressure off the kid.

  16. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 9:24 pm . Reply

    blues 0 – 1 Brentford

  17. badger123
    badger123 November 1, 2017 at 9:35 pm . Reply

    blues 0 – 2 Brentford
    Haha!

  18. Tekkers48
    Tekkers48 November 1, 2017 at 9:42 pm . Reply

    Great result. We’re moving in the right direction. Next target is the top 2. Three home games in the next four.

    1. Sidforever
      Sidforever November 1, 2017 at 9:51 pm . Reply

      Well done you Villa boys.

      Everyone who started out in a real shift. I was impressed with Whelan today. But my favourite was Davis, who was rightly man of the match.

      UTV

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