We don’t make it easy for ourselves do we?
I said in the preview that I wasn’t particularly confident, but expected that we’d win.
Quite rightly too, as if you can’t beat the league’s whipping boys at home, you know you’re in trouble.
It all started rather well, I thought.
We were playing sharp, incisive footy and there were some very good quality balls going into the box.
In short, we looked very much in control.
The beauty of it was that for once, it just looked like we had too much for the opposition.
Happy days.
So what happened then?
Typical of the Villa of late, we conceded from a very decent, but nothing special shot, that Guzan should have had covered, but allowed to get away from him. It’s not the first time he’s looked ropey, but given his overall form this season, it’s not something I’m going to dwell on.
Fortunately, a cracking ball in from a Westwood free kick led to Ciaran Clark heading in very nicely for the equaliser about four minutes later. Not that I was particularly worried at that stage anyway.
And so it continued, with us looking the better side until about the half hour mark, where I can’t really explain.
Somehow, we totally went off the boil and seemed to lose all impetus.
Westwood, who I’ve slated as being ineffective (along with Cleverley and Richardson) lately was actually doing well until he got clattered by a tackle that has “opened his knee up”. That doesn’t sound too good and might mean ligament damage. Let’s hope not.
1-1 at half time then.
The second half, well it just went off the boil even more I thought, even though we were still creating chances and Benteke was looking very sharp considering his lay-off.
Fair play to Leicester, they got back into it quite well, but never seriously threatened.
And then wonder of wonders, Alan Hutton scored after good work from Gabby and ultimately Benteke.
After the slating Hutton has had prior to this season (myself included there), it was no more than he’s deserved.
I for one, would like to shake the bloke by the hand for the way he’s performed in this season up to now.
So 2-1 it was, with what should have been the build up to a couple more goals, I thought.
Leicester soon put paid to that idea and the game actually had me worried until the end.
Even though we had the most possession, the best chances and the better of the play, I was never totally convinced, is what I’m trying to say.
Not that I’m trying to take anything away from today’s performance. We deservedly won and that’s all that matters.
MOTM? Probably Schmeichel, but the commentator gave it to Gabby.
I’d probably go for Benteke, who did everything apart from put the ball in the net.
There were probably more candidates too.
All in all, a good win and three more points towards survival or whatever.
