So it turned out even better than I predicted and we won against a side chasing the play-offs even though Lansbury went down injured before the game even started and Baker had to be subbed after around 25 minutes.
I really don’t see what there is to not like and surely if we’d known these things were going to happen beforehand, we’d pretty much all have been predicting a defeat?
So while I’m extremely happy that the Villa won (and let’s not forget that’s 4 out of 5, with the Huddersfield defeat being unlucky) I’m also fairly convinced that Steve Bruce has now got his head around our players.
This was demonstrated in the fact that he apparently went onto the pitch and gave Jonathan kodjia a major rollocking, telling him to keep the work-rate up.
I’d also go further and suggest that at long last, we’ve got a manager who is actually in charge. Which is why I believe we’re seeing results.
I’d go even further and suggest that having not seen, but listened to most of the games recently, we are now in a position where we don’t need to fear anyone in this league.
But of course, there’s always a fly in the ointment, that says that it doesn’t matter what we do now until the end of the season, as it’s all pointless.
To which I’d say that’s total rubbish.
The better we finish this run-in, so the better placed we are to look forward to next season in my opinion.
If we can win most of our remaining games and finish well up the table, we will not be looked upon as an expected 3 points, next season, but a real threat.
Anyway, on to the game and from what I heard, it sounded quite comfortable.
The massive attacking threat from Wednesday failed to appear and I’m not convinced they created a decent chance, let alone had a proper effort on goal.
Whereas we had a fair few and could easily have scored more than two goals.
Add in we had to play a makeshift central defence with Mile Jedinak dropping to CB and this victory is even more sweeter, although you have to wonder why Elphick, the natural replacement for Baker didn’t immediately appear.
He surely has to be a goner in the summer.
I only heard the second half, but in a game where Tony Morley said the best bit was Carlos Calvalho getting sent to the stands, it makes sense to suggest that most of the players did quite well.
Certainly Hutton got plenty of support, Adomah was clapped off, as was Kodjia.
Taylor looks a shoe-in for LB and the jury is out on Amavi at wide left.
No stupid mistakes and a win, with a clean sheet against a side who are challenging.
Which is about all you can ask for.
I shall sleep very soundly after a few beers.
Cheers!
