Whew, that was a roller-coaster.
We started really brightly with Adomah apparently hitting the post (I somehow missed that bit) and Kodjia getting the goal, after a give and go from Bacuna with just five minutes on the clock.
And then it seemed to get progressively worse, to such a state that it sounded like we were being battered for most of the second half.
While of course, the result is the only statistic that matters, it is slightly concerning that we seem to make hard work of everything and it surely can’t be good for the players, who were basically shattered quite early on.
I’m not knocking it though, as we got the result. Again.
Which means we’re showing great resilience.
That’s now eight hours at home without conceding a goal; pretty impressive, by any standards.
And further keeping my positive hat on, the truth is I don’t believe QPR seriously threatened.
I’m not sure how the scores have gone at the other games, but I don’t think much has changed that affects our position.
Not that it matters.
All we can be expected to do is keep knocking that three points out.
Which we’re quite simply doing, up to now.
What is it? Seven out of eight?
Ah man, we’re going to be seriously kicking ourselves come the end of the season.
The only slight downer was Johnstone, who the commentators described as “commanding” at one stage.
Only to then criticise him for punching when he could easily have caught, twice.
I might be making to much of an issue of it though and realise that the modern way seems to be to punch.
It just doesn’t make sense to me though. Why risk giving the ball away, if you can retain it?
That’s why England used to have the world’s top two or three goalies a while back, after all.
Still, why moan?
It’s another Villa win.
Lovely Jubbly!
It’s just a shame we aren’t already in the play-off places.
But I heard it again tonight.
“There’s always a team that storms through and takes the leaders by surprise”.
My fingers are still crossed.
Get in.
I’m loving it!
It took a long time to get the right players in place and then get them to gel together as a team. It’s because of this that I think we have missed the boat this time regarding the play offs.
I don’t mind this that much though. I’m just happy that we are now stringing together a succession of wins and clean sheets. To think that when we were relegated at the end of last season our team and club looked totally and utterly destroyed, and the fact that it looks like we have now turned the corner gives me real hope. I think in Bruce we have a manager who know’s how to get a team working well in this division, and he is backed by Dr X who seems to want us to succeed and also seems happy to splash a bit of cash to try and ensure it happens.
Of course it would be great if we could make the play offs, but I think there was too much damage and too much to repair for this to happen this season. But regardless I think the team is now gelling well and they are getting used to winning, even if they have to grind out a result, as your commentary on the game suggested. I think that just like constantly losing can become habitual, so can winning. My hope is that Bruce can harness that winning feeling and bring it into next season where hopefully we can mount a real challenge for automatic promotion.
7 wins in 8 anyone know the last time we ever did that?
good post deferenz
the current form we are expressing is no fluke. when we were experiencing the blip at new year, that was down too the team gelling in midseason, also losing your main striker to some stupidly timed internationals. why cant the africans hold their competition, during the same time as the euros close season,
anyways this form if we continue to end of season. will be great preparation for next season. unfortunately it will be championship. but this will give us a full season to gel and make winning a real habit. that would stand us better in long haul and ultimate goal. staying in premiership.
lastly iam sure some fans will moan soon about the way we are winning.but i will just point to stylish performances come after. as we needed to be patient at the start of this year. the players turned it around in mid season which was so much harder. then if bruce was appointed first at pre season. the style will come later down the road. so enjoying winning at all costs for the time being.
again thanks badger for the updates, national radio 5 live extra never once went to villa park for any updates. they went around other grounds. main game was brighton scum that says alot about their tastes
We will never win in style under Bruce. He’s a poor mans Mourinho go a goal up and park the bus. Only difference is Mourinho buys the best players in the world to do this job
Good to be a Villa fan again – rather win efficiently than lose playing flowing football (actually I rather win playing great football but one has to be realistic!)
On Johnstone – he’s only 23 which is young for a GK . He’s beginning to look the real deal but he’s still learning so his decision making is likely to be subject to criticism at times. I say look at the clean sheets and his performances overall.
Just watched the Sky highlights and Johnstone didn’t appear to have a shot to save. We created a lot of very good chances and on another day could well have been 3 up (takes off rose coloured specs!)
That’s the problem we very rarely get a second to finish teams off. This is what cost is under RDM.
Come on Oohah – don’t fall back into your old ways. I rather like the positive but sensibly balanced you 🙂
Ha ha il try not to 😄
Almost expect to win every game now. Massive turnaround and fair play to Bruce and the squad. Too late for this season but we should be in good shape for next season.
Another great win. What a turnaround from our losing streak. Funny Bruce was almost on the brink, but has turned it around spectacularly. It’s been years since we had a run of results like this.
Looking forward to the Burton game. Still can’t believe little old Burton On Trent are in the Championship. Awesome, but now is not the time for sentiment!!!!
I hope we beat Burton but want them to stay up
I have a soft spot for Burton too! Went to college there in the 80’s.
Yep I would second that. We shouldn’t under estimate them – they won’t give up and we will have to be on our game to get anything. I rather think it might be a draw.
i was looking at remaining games of fulham and wednesday and last 6 six games both only collected 8 points. they both have difficult games and i doubt they both will collect 3 wins of the 6 left. if we were the only team in the hunt it would e doable.
if we could win all our remaining games that would be amazing on its own. but if we did manage that. who knows how these two teams will cope. the whole playoff clubs are hoping we miss out. so both wednesday and fulham will be crapping themselves. knowing we are coming for the last place.
The irony is that at some point the pressure will come back to bite us!
i beg to differ. we as fans have accepted we face another season in championship. so will the manager and owner and even the players know its a step too far. players are playing for their villa futures. i believe they will keep up this sort of form. kodija is hungry and wants to break the villa goal scoring 20 season not achieved in a while. hogan wants to prove his worth. the players all want to prove they are worth another season at villa.
on the otherside wednesday and fulham will mess up more as the line closes in. it will be close. if we manage to win all remaining games and we have some hard ones left. but i think all are doable. even brighton last game. has our dna all over it. we will spoil brightons celebrations. they wont have anything to play for aswell.
i keep writing us off and then i look at the remaining fixtures of us fulham and wednesday and i think we could still do this
go through the remaining fixtures and just put ur punter head on. count up their wins from remaining games. i know this isnt scientific but its a guesstimate they both need around 3 wins to secure 6th from us. i just cant see they winning that amount i really cant
Not arguing Nath – it’s OK as long as we continue to be the outsiders or little chance but if we are in with a real (I mean serious) shout of the play offs with two games to go then it’s only human nature that the pressure changes. I’m not being negative – honest – and looking at the other teams run ins and form then it’s possible, with a perfect finish, that we could do it – wonder what the odds are?
Just think – last game at home to Brighton with a chance to sneak in. They would have to put stands in Aston Hall let alone open the upper on Trinity Road 🙂
no you misunderstand iam not arguing too. i just said, i keep changing my mind look at their games and look yourself i think it will be alot closer than it should be or most think it will be. IF we can keep our form until the end
Blues at home will be tough they will play game as if their lives depend on it
yeah i agree and burton away will be tough. but all are winnable too
On current form Blues could easily get relegated. Would that be funny? Just a bit.
That’s an interesting observation DSV – I might just look at the run ins at the bottom end. Blackburn are the only one of the bottom three with a chance to escape – think Wigan are too far behind now. There’s a few looking over their shoulders though.
i looked today it around 80.1 for us to finish in top 6. this was 100.1 a couple of weeks ago. this should have drifted with lesser games. i understand your point of itchy feet squeaky bums if we are closer with two. i don’t think nerves will come in to it for us. we are chasing and only likely to get into 6th on last day if we ever.
i think us fans are just happy the players are finally clicking into a team. the fact we are still with a chance of top 6 is a bonus. if we miss out we know we will be stronger fitter and wiser for this year and will romp home next year
fulham remaining games
ipswich (H)
norwich (A)
villa (H)
huddersfield (A)
brentford (H)
wednesday (A)
wednesday remaining fixtures
newcastle (H)
cardiff (H)
QPR (a)
derby (h)
ipswich(A)
fulham(H)
if we managed to win all our remaining games 75 points. sheff wed would need to win 3 games. off the two above sheff wed have the easiest remaining games. in my opinion because they have the 4 home games. i would bet that 6th spot has less than 75 points. both wednesday fulham only got 8 points in last 6 games. so lastly will we be able to sign out with us winning our remaining 6 games. thats worth a bet. slap a quid on it 80. 1 if its that price ltr i will be slapping a sky diver on it
OohAh – I’ve found something to cheer you up – despite winning 7 out of the last eight, it’s still over 3 years since Villa came from behind to win a league game. Last time was against Leicester at VP. Now that’s something you can get your teeth into 🙂
Now, on one hand I don’t really care but on the other hand how come Paul Lambert gets mom ahead of SB (February). It will be a joke if SB fails to get the award for March – but then again how important is it?
Correction Lambert won the mom for March for winning 3 out of 4 games in February. Scrap my previous comment – the award IS a joke.
The award is cursed anyway Hitch.
Plus, if I’d prefer Bruce wins it in April, as it’ll mean we’ll still be challenging for the play-offs.
Fair comment Badger – just think it’s a farce just like Wolves earning more than Villa in TV revenue having been shown half as many times. Now we know why Sky always pick Villa away games – they pay Villa peanuts but get the highest viewing figures – Dr. T should tell Sky to do one unless they are prepared to pay Villa their commercial worth.
Ah, I didn’t know that about the revenues.
But it doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
Sky is a totally mercenary outfit that doesn’t give a toss about the game and indeed has ruined it, in my book.
Hence why I haven’t subscribed for years.
Unfortunately Xia can’t tell Sky anything, as they are the paymasters and REALLY run the game.
Disgraceful, but when the Prem and FA sell their arses, it’s only to be expected isn’t it?
No wonder there are so many who want to watch/listen from other sources.
Even the other media companies are complicit.
The likes of Virgin media have been given the power to warn users about illegal downloads. They’re not required to do it, but they are anyway.
It’s all about protecting their revenue streams too.
Too much money going to media, at the cost of poor Joe public and the game overall, imo.
I’m sure you’ve heard it all before and probably agree, but damn, a good rant always makes me feel better 🙂
It’s all very well assuming that Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday might not win enough games,thus giving us a chance to sneak in to the play-offs but everyone seems to have forgotten that Norwich,Derby and Preston are also above us.
I’m one of the most positive in thinking that we can still do it, Mark.
And to be honest, even I think it’s an impossible task.
But while it’s still ridiculously possible, so I like to think we can do it.
It’s keeping the season alive for me.
But yes, I’m being unrealistic.
My Derby mate says they’re going to kick the Blues’ arses tomorrow.
Couple that with the fact that we might beat them too and the point in my stance is that season isn’t quite over yet.
Ultimately, I realise that we ain’t going up. But I still retain interest.
It’s either that or just give up until next season.
just to be clear. i don’t endorse believing in fairies. but i just making a point that its not to far fetch. both the two teams that are fighting over 6th. both have tough games, both are not on fire. both might not get 9 points they need to stop villa if we did the impossible and win all our games.
going of last 6 games if villa wednesday and fulham all did same as their last 6 games. it would be a close thing who gets its thats with us being how many points we are behind.
also i went into bookies other day they also quoted the team below villa at 150 /1 mark so you missed one out of ur selections
I on the other hand do believe in Fairies/Faeries. Saw three of them once as a teenager by a brook in Kilkenny. Scared the living dayights out of me. When I told my Irish grandmother, she said they’d lived by the water for generations, but to stay away because they were very dangerous!!! Creepy!
this reminds me of a song 🙂 black sabbath fairies were boots
Sorry chaps, I just haven’t had time to do a write-up.
I’ll keep updating any important stuff.
Villa: Johnstone, Baker, Taylor, Lansbury, Bacuna, Chester (C), Hutton, Amavi, Jedinak, Kodjia, Adomah Subs: Bunn, Elphick, Hogan, Hourihane, Bree, Gardner, Grealish
Kodjia 1-0
Defensive mistake.
Come on!!!
Blues losing 1-0
Villa seeming to play a countering game
Chester header from a corner.
Burton lacking confidence and look nervy.