So after wasting a couple of hours looking for a Christmas tree (that we didn’t get!), here’s my thoughts;
I’m going to look past some major problems at first and say that this was a cracking win.
After going one down, I thought we did well to get back into that after having lots of possession, but not being able to do anything with it.
The team spirit seems really good and the manager seems to have an attitude where, “it’s not a problem, we can outscore them”.
Which is so refreshing. If we were playing that game under Bruce, I’ve no doubt we’d have crumpled under a constant barrage of attacks, while sitting back and trying to catch them.
It’s blatantly obvious to anyone that our attacking threat majorly outweighs our defence, which leaves us with the only option where we have to go for the jugular.
We’ve known it for ages and Dean Smith obviously agrees, given his subs.
So it amazes me that Bruce didn’t or just refused to see it.
I’m not happy to say it, as I liked Bruce, but frankly I’m glad he’s gone.
So while it was a cracking win, in analysing the game, you can’t really say it was a good one.
I know, I’m moaning, but we have to look at what went wrong too.
Nyland has to be replaced as soon as possible. I actually thought he was doing ok up until the first goal, where he just went missing. I’ve tried not to complain about him up till now, but he’s had plenty of time to settle, yet still looks a massive liabilty at what should be staightforward stuff.
What’s up with Chester? He too looked mostly ok, but his lapses in concentration are shocking and he gave the ball away far too easily at times.
We missed McGinn’s energy big time today and were humping long balls upfield, to little effect. It just shows how important he is to us, as without him, there’s no real outlet in the middle.
Grealish often came deep to try and take on that mantle, but I really don’t think that’s his game.
We look seriously dodgy at any set piece and that’s a worry.
But it’s nothing we didn’t already know.
What surprised me was that blues didn’t try more of the ball down the middle, that we know we’re also susceptible to.
Fair play to blues, they tried to play proper footy, I thought.
But enough of the criticism, as today was all about the result.
We got it, quite convincingly in the end, with some of the noses leaving with more than 10 minutes to go.
Which I thought was poor, given that they had put up a pretty decent show.
That win puts us up to 8th, where suddenly our next fixtures don’t look nearly as daunting as they did a few weeks back. Our confidence must be growing all the time.
Dean Smith won’t be happy with the performance and indeed he’s said as much.
But he knows where our weaknesses are by now and will surely be looking to improve us in the January window.
It bodes well when we have a manager that can genuinely see our strengths and weaknesses and won’t need to splash stupid amounts of money on risky ageing players.
And it also bodes well that we’re winning games without playing particularly well.
They we go backing off to 10 men and the inevitable happens
Grabban sneaks one in from wide.
Goalie suspect at first glance, but it was a good take.
5-5
Silly sods, giving the game away now.
In the net, but it’s handball from El Ghazi. Booked.
32000 odd. Good crowd.
TWO disallowed goals!!!!!
Full time. 5-5.
What a game.
Feels like a defeat 😔
As we were 0-2 down it’s perhaps not so bad
Im sure tomorrow i will think a draw was a good/fair result considering.
Ten man Stoke beating Derby. If that stays as it is we’ll be just 3 points from the play offs. Making progress
Neither team deserved to lose. When we got to 5-4 I really thought we were going to win. Bloody Grabban! Imagine if we had kept him and off loaded Hogan or Kodja.
Not sure how to react. After being two down so quickly I would have been grateful to get a point, yet it’s a weird feeling. Defensively we were a shambles, and lacked any kind of midfield shield. Having got 5-4 in front against ten men I thought we might go on to win, but their equaliser from Grabban was more poor defending, and the only goal I would point the finger at Nyland for (not that he was the only culprit).
Fair play to Forest though for having the determination to get something out of the game at the end.
Still 4 points off play offs because Forest are 6th. When you look at stats we had 26 shots and Forest had 8!
It’s only 3 isn’t it? Forest 31 and Vila 28.
Derby still losing at Stoke, let’s hope it stays that way
Apologies it is 3 points from play offs. It is a totally different game next against Middlesbrough. It will be more about set pieces and how well we defend them. Pullis always sets up to be defensively solid so a tough nut to crack.
Yes big guns coming in with Middlebough and Westbrom ,them will tell us something needs sorting.
Both on TV as well. I’m glad for my fingernails that tonight’s game wasn’t!
Well if your not going to win a game, a score draw like that is not a bad consolation. Bit disappointed not to hold onto the lead but on reflection I would have taken the point before the game started. Need to keep trying to outscore the opposition as we have the players to do that. January 1st we need to be signing a centre half and two full backs.
Forest had just five shots on goal out of a total of 8. Villa had 26 shots in total.
Freak result – only in the Championship but you just have to take the draw and move on, new challenges ahead.
Have to try and stay in touch and reinforce the defence in January.
Can’t accuse Deano of playing defensive football LOL
UTV