I did actually write something last night, but fell asleep just as I was due to hit the “publish” button.
Seeing as I wrote it, I’ve published it anyway, albeit miles too late.
You’ll see that I thought the only way we could win was to out-work Wolves, which I’m happy to say was pretty much how it panned out.
I only saw the second half and had to settle for the WM commentary for the first, as I drove home from work.
I’d really wanted to watch this game, but we had a job that needs to be completed by 10AM tomorrow.
I think I was expected to stay late to finish it tonight, but you have to draw the line somewhere and I called a halt.
Paying £8 to Sky to watch half a game grieved me, but the game sounded so compelling that I couldn’t resist.
And I’m glad I did, as to my mind we trounced Wolves in that second half.
You can see that Wolves are a classy side and I now realise why some clubs want them looked into, as they’re a cut above, skill-wise. When you consider some of their players have played in the Champion’s league, yet are not on their way down, it does make you wonder how Wolves have got them in.
Whatever, I thought we made them look very ordinary today and what won it for me was the tactics.
We played at such a pace that I thought we’d never be able to keep it up.
The battling and bodies-behind-the-ball attitude is outstanding. How Bruce and his staff have managed to so totally turn this around is beyond me, but you now see a team that look like they’re willing to die for the shirt.
Brucie simply has to be doing something right.
So we played at a high pace, that Wolves matched, but it was our sheer work-rate that did for Wolves, it seemed to me.
We simply stopped them playing and hence dominating.
Don’t get me wrong, they still looked very dangerous on the break, but we stopped everything they tried.
I tried to call the MOTM, but found it tricky.
Adomah got the official award, but there are so many others who deserved it too.
Chester got his second in two games, while being masterful in defence along with Terry.
Snodgrass was excellent with his delivery and I grudgingly add his “chicanery” (cheating).
Grealish, for his pure trickery, that draws fouls, along with one excellent tackle that would have done any defender proud. I really never knew he had that in him and that has to be down to the management again.
Grabban got what? His 4th in 4 games? Outstanding.
In fact, when you’ve beaten the league leaders so convincingly, it’s difficult to not name the whole team as MOTM.
I listened to the after-match chat and one comment from some ex Wolves player summed it up for me.
He talked about how through most of the season, one of our players has always stepped up when other players aren’t doing quite so well.
He spoke about Adomah, then Grealish, then Snodgrass, then Hogan, then Grabban etc.
And he was exactly right.
This is the sign of a very good team.
And to see so many of them punching the air after the game makes even the very cautious me think the title isn’t quite decided yet.
Second place definitely isn’t and it’s going to be some very decent team(s) that finish above us.
Consider that today was probably our toughest game left and I think we look decidedly strong.
All it needs is for Cardiff to drop some points.
I’m off to send my Derby mate some abuse.
Comments
109 responses to “Villa 4 – 1 Wolves; Who’d have thought it? We send a real message to our competitors.”
I don’t know whether it’s part of being a Villa fan, but I don’t feel confident about winning tonight. Everything points to a comfortable win, and maybe it’s because several years of let downs have taken there toll. I hope Cardiff find it as difficult as we did at Brentford. I’m going to forecast a 2-0 win for Villa, although QPR probably won’t go toe to toe with us like Wolves so patience might be needed.
Brentford lead against Cardiff
Jesus qpr lead
Oh man! Find out what were about tonight.
Oh dear
We keep loobing high balls into the box and QPR find them comfortable.
I’m actually still confident though.
Brentford 1 Cardiff 1
There;s no-one in the box when we deliver.
Change of tactics needed, sharpish, imo.
Johnstones distribution is awful lately.
Can’t watch game but it doesn’t sound good
2-0
I don’t believe this.
Typical Villa!
Big ask to get three now.
Typical. Everyone saying this was going to be a walk over. No game is easy in this league. Probably thought we only had to turn up.
I’m streating it and had to turn it off, the way it’s going the best we can hope for is play offs, they closing us down as soon as our player got the ball,
It does seem like an over-confidence thing.
I’d expect a rocket from Bruce.
We need to push Grealish further up, to give them more to worry about, imo.
He’s playing well
High ball, high ball. it isn’t working!
THey’re running through us in the middle, yet we still look like we’ll score.
Defence don’t look confident, Terry apart, who’s played well.
Oh well – unless we turn it round second half looks like play offs after all
Boos from the fans, as the result up to now isn’t right.
QPR haven’t even played well.
Still think we’ll score, but 3???
I doubt it 🙁
And the ref’s crap.
We could score 4 second half in all honesty! Next goal key. If we dont score before 65 then the 3 points are gone. Mad how 1 game and with current scores it looks like playoffs only.
Yep, agreed, but I was expecting one before half time and it isn’t happening for us.
Still plenty of twists and turns, but this isn’t good, as it stands.
Have to agree Badger, Johnstone cannot find a player or its out for a throw in.,
anybody fancy the playoffs
Davies maybe coming on.
Not before time if you’re going to pump high balls in.
Cardiff now ahead and Wolves winning – we need to hold onto third place if we can’t get automatic promotion – however it looks like Fulham and Cardiff just can’t lose the moment.
Hourihane off for me. Done nothing.
But it might make us weaker in the middle.
Oops, no it’s Taylor.
Jedinak into a back 3
3-5-2
Cardiff 3-1