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.
Oh, 2-1 to us.
Here’s hoping.
Shit. caught on the counter.
0-1, but I’m still confident. We just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing.
Grealish just looks a class apart, with the way he moves with ball, looking all the time.
Bannan doesn’t look bad either.
As opposed to Green who doesn’t seem at it at all, up to now.
There’s a typical example of green.
There just seems little to no conviction in his chasing.
Probably just a lack of self belief, that’ll come in time.
Meanwhile Mings has gone down for no reason at all.
I hope he’s ok.
Seems he’s ok.
And Green after not giving up on a lost ball, crosses to set McGinn up lol.
One each, Yes!
4 in 4 for McGinn
ironically, Grealish is given a foul after what seemed a totally innocuous shoulder barge as the players are going for a header.
I know it’s a bit early, but Whelan has done nothing right up to now.
Missed many tackles and passed poorly, hence needs resting, imo.
Iorfa off for Fox.
Other results going our way up to now.
Attendance 29,500.
Blimey, i’d have expected a lot more than that.
Hause injured and coming off for Tuanzebe.
Looks like a groin strain, to me.
Penalty given against Mings on Fletcher.
He’s definitely caught him, for me.
Steer saves!
Come on Villa, get a grip.
Green and Whelan off, Hourihane and Adomah on, imo.
Badger it seems like you are talking to yourself!
yep, but there you go.
Consider it a bit of a commentary 🙂
This is a real test of our mettle here, as we’re under the cosh.
El Ghazi gets shoulder charged and goes down like he’s been hit in the face.
Professional, in giving us a breather, but poor, imo.
Adomah on for Green , which will improve the tracking back.
Bannan going off now, with what seemed like clapping to both sets of supporters.
Would be nice to sneak a winner here but looking unlikely.
We look really poor now.
Nothing is going right and we’re all over the place.
Kodjia on for El Ghazi.
I’d have taken Abraham off, but can see the logic.
If we can get it up their end, it’ll take the pressure off the defence.
Any ideas why we look so poor, Badger? Maybe the Bruce factor has gotten into the players’ heads? Or maybe Bruce has out-thought Smith?
It’s strange, BFR.
We totally lost all shape, but it seems fitness won this game.
We need the Olbyun to do us a massive favour at Bristol on Tuesday…
…and next Saturday is massive!
yes, get the fuck in.
Uncle albert!
2-1
Yes. yes, yes!!!!!!
All going our way 1-3 plus Brentford and Wigan equalise UTV