A bit of a strange game, I thought.
We started off looking like Brazil at their finest and ended up looking, well not quite ropey, but definitely under pressure.
It would seem Dean Smith really wasn’t kidding when he said Blackburn were a very decent side with good players.
It was easy to see in their play that the lads are brimming with confidence and even Tyrone Mings showed trickery with his feet that’s not normally associated with a defender. What an absolute rock he is. His calmness just seems to have oozed into the team, but he was also passing the ball around so high up the pitch that I thought he might get a nosebleed, at one stage.
For him to get the goal with a very difficult header was just reward for his good work of late. Was he the MOTM? Possibly, but you might have a different view.
So while we played exhibition type stuff in the first half, with some excellent play leading to Tammy’s goal, it’s a good job Mings did get the second as Rovers came back very strongly in the second half. So strong in fact, that it’s difficult to see why they’ve struggled so much of late.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think they’re a great side, but they work hard and have players that can punish you. Fotunately, we managed to hold out in what was quite a nervy last 20 minutes.
So, another win and that’s five on the bounce.
It’s a shame that we couldn’t keep a clean sheet and I think Steer should have saved their goal, but he’s done very little wrong in our winning streak, so I’m not complaining and it didn’t affect the result anyway.
Happy days and I’m off for a meal and a few drinks to celebrate.
No Hitch didn’t mean anything by it , I’m happy at the resault, I tuned into sky bet tv, the two commentators was Blackburn fans and didn’t it show. Yes we was like a team that knew the game in and out, second half was completely different, mind you we missed some simple chances and hit the post. Mcginns was ace along with Ming,, Southgate was at the game must have been looking at GREALISH who was a little below his past games.all in all we was the better side on the day.
watching bore and norwich, middlesbrough surprised me they are cutting off norwich high, trying to make norwich play it long. hardly the pulis way but they have made norwich suffer doing this. norwich like us earlier on this season want to play out from the back and they are too predictable like we was, they were quick on occasions breaking.
if we needed to beat norwich towards the end of season. i have seen nothing here to say we couldn’t. middlesbrough if they make the playoffs they have some decent players. but their tactics are sometimes questionable but not today they really had a go first half nil nil its a cracker NOT
Norwich just scored Nath.
yeah good goal too bill.
norwich were better second half, but they are not unbeatable. if you press them high you have a good chance of stopping them. bore looked leggy second half and they gave norwich too much room, but that said bore had late chances at the end and fluffed um.
its sheff wed next bill queaky bum times ahead. i can see bruce working overtime trying to plot his revenge
just heard smith interview.
for me he split the beans on why we are now better lately. he said we want to be a good team and not just a group of individuals. this in my opinion is the reason for the success lately. he has probably been drilling them to knit together like they are now. it doesn’t come quickly but we all now can see we are a team. the individuals are now all playing for the team where in the past we came unstuck against good teams.
future is bright the future is smith, long live the king and down with the old king booo bruce lol cant wait for next week now bye
spilt not split
I just caught the last 20 minutes of the game Norwich -Borough carn’t really comment, but what I did see was two teams fighting knowing how important it was. Think Tuesdays also important Bristol and Borough play. Getting nail biting time. Utv.
Saw it all Bill and Norwich just about deserved the win.
I might become a temporary Canary in the hope that they’re champions before we have to play them. I’d much prefer to play them with their holiday heads on.
“Temporary Canary”. Didn’t that come second to the “Dead Parrot” in Monty Python’s ideas for a new sketch?
I know what you mean Pat 57, no one to touch them with them points in the locker. It’s now a case of watching all the team’s around us,
Went to the game yesterday with my son and after 10 minutes I thought it was going to be a walk over, especially when we went 2-0 up. The only thing McGinn did wrong all game resulted in them having a free kick and Steer should have done better. After that their tails were up and we looked like all the confidence had been knocked out of us. Credit to Mings and Hause who were both superb. Overall though we won and we have given ourselves a real chance of play offs. My son enjoyed the game too and got a photo with James Chester before game which was great. Also nearly 40,000 there yesterday which was impressive. Good atmosphere too although when they scored, the tension from the fans transcended down to the players. Every game is like a cup final now and we need to slug it out like we did yesterday if we are to make playoffs.
Watched the replay several times and still not sure whether Steer was at fault for the goal or whether the ball swerved late which these lighter balls can do.
How often do teams rue missed chances and we certainly missed a few, particularly in the first half. I think we had something like 10 shots on target plus one hitting the post. Very good percentage of shots overall hitting the target but we, perhaps, should have converted more.
As Nath points out, the real upside is us playing as a team and being able to win the hard battles if we have to – like in the last 20 minutes. It seems to me that Mings has helped in the team aspect – he’s a leader, sets an example with his play and is very loud on the pitch.
Now on to Wednesday on Saturday 🙂 and whilst I have no bad feelings towards Bruce, this is one game I don’t want him to win. Not sure our form at Hillsbrough is that good so will be a tough one.
your right hitch. we are a real team now. they are well drilled with and without the ball. all i can say for sure is mings is leading by example and i avent seen that in a villa shirt since sir Paul Mcgrath. he rarely gives the ball away as he never loses a one on one battle. i saw him miss placed one pass late on and i nearly choked. but mings is only one, they are all now leaders in their own rights, they are demanding of each other. they want the promotion you can see it in their eyes and the way they are so focussed.
i think everybody could see we were the dominate force first half. but second half blackburn forced the game more, but villa might have wobbled alittle but they showed they can fight too. they rolled up their sleeves and they worked out the result. they are growing each week
Nath – even El Ghazi seems to have grown ‘a pair’. No doubting his ability and potential but adding a bit of steel to his game makes a big difference.
McClaren sacked from QPR. The mystery for me is why they appointed him in the first place.
Well QPR are going one way and hopefully we’re going the other.
DEAN SMITH SET TO QUIT OVER GREALISH TRANSFER
Aston villa manager is set to quit Aston villa after a Transfer for Jack Grealish has been agreed Behind his back according to the Newcastle-eco
Newcastle United have triggered Jack grealish’s 35 million release clause Rafa Benitez who has been a long term admirer of the Aston villa player and Newcastle United are set to smash their own transfer record to get him at the end of the season .
Aston villa manager Dean Smith is apparently fuming with the club’s decision and is now considering his own position ….. more news to follow
This is mudslinging news, the Religion gave this out.
Don’t count as an April Fool joke is only up to 12…
Never thought of that, villaaway, do they still play them silly games?
That is total bullshit.
For one, clubs don’t do business at this time of the year, as much as there might be back-handed stuff going on behind the scenes.
And two, Jack will only move to the right sort of club.
And no disrespect, but it isn’t Newcastle, imo.
Wishful thinking by the Toon Army. The only time they’ll see Jack at St. James’s Park is when he’s playing away.
According to The Times – “The English Football League has decided not to use VAR for next month’s Championship play-off final, dubbed the most valuable match in football.”
No VAR? You just know that something controversial is going to happen don’t you? But then again we’re only the Championship so I don’t suppose we matter.
Bristol City winning away to Middlesbrough was disappointing, especially now they have gone one point ahead of us with a game in hand. It means Sheffield Wednesday game is one we can’t afford to lose. Even a draw would be a set back with teams around us within a point or two and Derby having a game in hand. If we can stay injury free then we can be optimistic but we will need to dig out results like we did against Blackburn if we are to make playoffs. Nerve wracking times ahead!
Holte66, I had that same thought when I checked the table. It now has become more important that we don’t drop any points from now on, we have been given another chance when most on here thought our season had gone. I’ve been checking other teams venues that’s important to us on our run in, ours are hard teams where others have it a lot easier than us, we have to play all our games like its a cup final to take the chance thats been given to us this season. You’ve called it right, we have to stay injuries free in our last few games. Utv.
First off I was disappointed Bristol won but a Middlesbrough win would have been worse as they would have gone ahead of us and both City / Derby would have still had a game in hand. As it is (putting City to one side) only Derby of those teams behind us have a game in hand. A draw would have been perfect but then when was life ever that straight forward.
I really don’t think it materially changes things – we always knew there was 3/4 teams battling for two play off spots.
Still down to us to get the results – draw against Wednesday and a win against City would do me.
UTV
Hitch, don’t forget we have Rotherham away in between. Like Bill said, every game is now a cup final.
Ah, forgot that Holte. We really should beat Rotherham.
Hitch also don’t forget that Bristol have to play us at home and they also have to play Derby so one (or both) will have to drop some points.
It’s as tight as it could be but at least we’re in with a shout.
Yep, it’s as tight as a gnat’s chuff.
The question is who is least likely to drop points?
Logic says it’s us, because we’re the ones on a roll.
But my heart says we’re bound to mess up, purely because we’re the Villa.
Except, this time, I don’t think so, so much.
We might get the odd draw, but other teams will lose games, imo.
The play-offs are ours to throw away, simple.
I agree with that Badger. Haven’t really researched the fixtures but comments above reinforce my view that Bristol beating Middlesbro wasn’t a bad result for us.
I’m not so sure Pat57, I’ve watched him closely as a pundit on sport, he knows his football and he did inherit a poor side with us at the time, if I remember we had dressing room up evil at his time with us and bad owner, I’m more concerned with the match against Bruce that’s coming up, he has a lot to proove with us and cannot let him win this match, I hope our lads don’t feel sorry and give him respect on the day. We have to win this one then I’ll believe in the team going up utv.
I did a predictor league online and it ended with Villa finishing 8th. Admittedly a completely pointless thing to do because results in the championship are in a lot of games unpredictable. I’m definitely worried about weekend with Bruce keen to put one over us and he knows our players. Add to that we rarely do well at Hillsborough and they are unbeaten in eleven games! We can’t let Bristol City get away from us otherwise 4-5 teams will be battling for 6th place. I can’t see Bristol City not winning on Saturday so even a draw for us could prove costly. I said over a month ago we needed to win 5 on the bounce to have any hope of making playoffs. Now I think we need to maintain our winning run to stay there.
Our record at Hillsbrough is not encouraging but on the plus side Bruce has a poor record against us. A win would be beyond brilliant but I’d take draw. Long way to go still and more than a few twists I’m sure before the end of the season. At least it’s no longer mid table mediocrity.
There are two teams, imo that could turn Sheffield over on their own patch.
One’s Norwich and the other is us.
Bruce might try to contain us, but we can score the goals.
Standard – “QPR make Tim Sherwood No.1 target as they draw up shortlist for manager’s job”
God help them is all I can say.
I have to disagree also. Tim was appointed as manager only to find farcical hierarchy. That corrupt and useless overseas scout bought a barrowload of French youngsters with attitude, most of which Sherwood had not seen play. And having seen them play he seriously questioned wheher the scout had. The Ship of Fools had a similar cargo foisted on them and they are still suffering from players who balance temprement with talent.
I reckon Sherwood is the best QPR could hope for, otherwise for them – it is one of the identikit, team-swapping, serial losers who collect more money in redunancy checks than they get in pay.