Villa 1 – 0 Fulham; A strange game, but fifth!

I’m working in Sheffield and just didn’t get time to write beforehand, apologies.
But I did get to see the game and it was just an odd one, wasn’t it?

We looked decent in the first half, while Fulham looked totally impotent.
We seemed inventive and threatening, albeit with a lack of pace or edge to our game, whereas Fulham offered next to nothing at all.
I can say, for the first time in a good while, that I was absolutely convinced we would win.

It seemed to me that Fulham were more interested in trying to stop our game and hit us on the counter, but the reality is that our midfield out-performed them and the whole side just worked harder overall.
That’s the great part about the Villa at the moment.
And after 3 consecutive corners, where McGinn stuck the ball right where it’s really needed, Mings headed backwards from the front post sort of area to score his first goal in over a year.
It was well deserved, in my opinion.

1-0 at half time then and we were value for the money, at least result-wise.

And then, come second half, I don’t know what happened.
I expected us to continue with more of the same, yet it didn’t happen.

We looked totally placid and Fulham came into it more and more. So much so that I was beginning to wonder if they might actually spoil things and get a goal back.
I found myself wondering if it was instructions from Emery to not push, if it was tiredness, or just a natural inclination to protect a lead.
I suspect it might have been a bit of all three. Indeed, Unai has just said he thinks we looked tired.

So we’re up to a heady fifth and above Spurs, who surely can’t fancy playing us shortly.

We won’t stay fifth, but doesn’t it feel nice?

And then I keep harking back to our time under Gerrard, where the side looked the polar opposite of what they are now.
And I find myself wondering how the ex red could possibly have got it so wrong?

We have gone 10 on the trot unbeaten, have a boatload of clean sheets, look resilient and work hard for each other.
I can only imagine that Gerrard was totally uninspiring as a manager and offered even less in the way of man management skills.

As each game goes by, I’m more content in the knowledge that the times they are a’ changing.

UTV!

43 Comments

Page 1 of 1
  1. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson April 26, 2023 at 6:58 am . Reply

    I managed to see part of the second half as I was at a meeting in Warwickshire. Waiting to see it on playback later and have to say slightly disappointed in what I seen. Still a win is a win but worried for future games knowing we are so close. Yes we did look tired and panicky at times I just hope the lads realise you play now till you drop, 5 games to go and big money awaits with medals.

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 April 26, 2023 at 12:23 pm . Reply

      You’ll enjoy the first half Bill

    2. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum April 26, 2023 at 9:23 pm . Reply

      Forest 3 Brighton 1.
      Massive result for Villa!!!!!

      Santa, Where’s my West Ham equaliser???? 🤨 Come on Ings!!!!!!

  2. Gerry
    Gerry April 26, 2023 at 10:13 am . Reply

    Did anyone else notice how savvy Buendía was from Mings Headed goal. It would have been so easy for him to make sure and put his head to it. I love the player he is becoming and McGinn’s influence in teaching Ramsay and Buendía what their arses are really for.

  3. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson April 26, 2023 at 11:37 am . Reply

    Gerry I’m still not sure about Ramsey some fans think he’s the man but me the jury’s out for me. I did see Oli bollock Buendia not passing him the ball , still from what I’m reading Emery will talk and sort it out with video .

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 April 26, 2023 at 12:26 pm . Reply

      And Buendia had a right go at Oli in the Brentford game for taking a header away from him in front of goal. So all square now 🙂

      Don’t have a problem with players being frustrated at times particularly as overall there is clearly a really good team spirit.

      1. Big Fat Ron
        Big Fat Ron April 26, 2023 at 8:09 pm . Reply

        Buendia was also unhappy when Ollie didn’t square the ball to him against Newcastle in the second half for an easy goal. Elected to shoot instead which Pope saved.

        1. The Ron Saunders Stand
          The Ron Saunders Stand April 26, 2023 at 9:00 pm . Reply

          And watkins was raging at Buendia over a couple of balls he won and laid off into space expecting Buendia to read it and he just stood there watching.
          I’m with Watkins on this, imo Buendia doesn’t read the game well and the ball don’t stick.

    2. Big Fat Ron
      Big Fat Ron April 26, 2023 at 8:10 pm . Reply

      Bill, I was lucky enough to be at the Newcastle match and remember saying to my uncle that next season will be Ramsey’s. Time will tell…

  4. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson April 26, 2023 at 3:00 pm . Reply

    On the second half now first half showed willingness, as for the second we took the view of holding the lead at all cost with no little thought of giving them problems to defend our attacking. Even the commentators just said the same , saying we are not going forwards as much this half.

    1. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum April 26, 2023 at 6:41 pm . Reply

      Best to conserve energy levels…

  5. Adam
    Adam April 26, 2023 at 7:46 pm . Reply

    Forest miss a penalty already! Damn come on Forest we need you to win!!

  6. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum April 26, 2023 at 8:28 pm . Reply

    It shows just how far we’ve come when the Chelsea v Brentford result means nothing to us.
    West Ham and Forest both drawing 😁

  7. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum April 26, 2023 at 9:02 pm . Reply

    Forest winning!
    West Ham second goal ruled out.

    1. Adam
      Adam April 26, 2023 at 9:51 pm . Reply

      West Ham denied a clear penalty IMO. Given some of the handballs ive seen given this season. I think that’s a bad VAR call. Would it have gone the same way if it was for Liverpool in the 90th minute?? Hmmmm you do wonder.

      1. Holte
        Holte April 26, 2023 at 10:06 pm . Reply

        I remember Cash falling and the ball hit his arm and a penalty was given. Sky / BT own the officials / VAR and they are under instruction to favour their favourite 6/7 clubs. Lots of brown envelopes going around IMO. Totally rigged to keep the establishment in order.

        1. Hitchens60
          Hitchens60 April 26, 2023 at 10:53 pm . Reply

          Holte – it doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not but if the majority of supporters outside the Sky 6 believe it to be so then VAR has no credibility.

          1. Big Fat Ron
            Big Fat Ron April 27, 2023 at 6:45 am . Reply

            True, Hitch.

        2. Big Fat Ron
          Big Fat Ron April 27, 2023 at 6:45 am . Reply

          Well done for saying how it is.

      2. Big Fat Ron
        Big Fat Ron April 27, 2023 at 6:53 am . Reply

        A bad VAR call, or a bent VAR call, Adam?

  8. Big Fat Ron
    Big Fat Ron April 27, 2023 at 6:42 am . Reply

    I see Liverpool had a little help from their friends last night.

  9. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson April 27, 2023 at 7:37 am . Reply

    You tell me if Michael Oliver is squeaky clean, I’ll welcome a investigation into the honestly of some refs and he one I’d start with .

    1. OLL again
      OLL again April 27, 2023 at 7:04 pm . Reply

      Funny you should pick him. When my mate offers to get me tickets for Villa aways in London and S Coast, I try to check if Oliver will be the ref – and if he is I decline.
      Some years back an academic statistician did a study of referees to see if they were biased. Not just the usual crowd-influenced bias towards the home team but an unusual favour or disfavour. He set the bar fairly high but nevertheless found there was only a 2% chance David Elleray was not biased against Villa.

      Elleray was the previous ref who caused me to sell/give away a match ticket. Very close was/is Kevin Friend who isn’t one to the Villans. I wonder if those stats are still kept by someone – anyone know?

  10. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson April 27, 2023 at 7:24 pm . Reply

    Does anyone know if a ref keeps the book of bookings at the end of a game or the end of the season along with retirement? I’ve often wonder.

  11. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum April 27, 2023 at 7:28 pm . Reply

    Okay Guys. Here’s a question. Would you rather a ManU v Spurs draw tonight or a Utd win?
    If it’s a draw, even though Spuds would go 5th on GD, if we beat Utd on Sunday we’d be just one win behind 4th place. Or would you prefer a Spuds loss to stick the knife in further and reduce their confidence even more?
    Stick or twist????

    1. Big Fat Ron
      Big Fat Ron April 27, 2023 at 7:58 pm . Reply

      Stick AND twist! F*** em both!

    2. Big Fat Ron
      Big Fat Ron April 27, 2023 at 8:01 pm . Reply

      Seriously though, Bum Bum, as RSS said before, there aren’t enough game to catch Untied (I hate to say) and they have games in had as well. So a very reluctant win for the Mancs it is. Then hopefully we pummel Spurs at the weekend after the extra rest…

      1. The Ron Saunders Stand
        The Ron Saunders Stand April 27, 2023 at 9:03 pm . Reply

        0-2
        Looking good 😉

  12. Big Fat Ron
    Big Fat Ron April 27, 2023 at 8:02 pm . Reply

    in hand *

  13. Sidforever
    Sidforever April 27, 2023 at 9:08 pm . Reply

    Keep going Man Utd – at 0-2 Spurs goal difference is the same as ours. Hit them for 6! It could be critical at the end of the season to positions based on goal difference

  14. Big Fat Ron
    Big Fat Ron April 27, 2023 at 9:30 pm . Reply

    Looking like top 4 is fixed and Everton going down (not before time)!

  15. Big Fat Ron
    Big Fat Ron April 27, 2023 at 9:31 pm . Reply

    *fixed as in now decided, not corruptly assembled!

  16. Big Fat Ron
    Big Fat Ron April 27, 2023 at 9:32 pm . Reply

    Barcodes are full of goals – that’s the next step for Emery and the Villa – bigger wins of 4s and 5s – they have a number of those this season.

  17. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum April 27, 2023 at 10:46 pm . Reply

    Spuds pulling back for a draw. So close!!!! 5th is in our hands because I can’t see Brighton winning all of their 3 games in hand…

  18. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 April 28, 2023 at 12:41 pm . Reply

    We need to win at least three of our last five games to be in a European spot – so both our home games obviously and Wolves away.

    Anything at Man U and Pool will be a bonus.

    Objective rather than negative pov. 🙂

    1. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum April 28, 2023 at 4:47 pm . Reply

      Sunday is gonna be another corker. Can we revisit the spirit of the Newcastle game?
      I absolutely loved the way Emery talked about our remaining fixtures ‘We have very big games coming, I like big games’…

  19. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson April 28, 2023 at 5:43 pm . Reply

    Well it’s Squeaky Bum Bum time . I’m still pissed off that Man Utd gave two bloody goals away. Still what ever the outcome Sunday I’m proud that we are now on the mend. Roll on next season because we are starting a new era for Aston Villa mark my words.

Post Comment