There you go, it’s right at the top of the post, so you can vote and don’t have to read my prattle if you don’t want to.
I have to confess that I’m worried about this one.
We’ve had a great run in winning six games out of six and when you’re having such a good run, thoughts have to turn to when that run will eventually end, as it surely has to.
Unfortunately, Blues seem to have turned their very poor form around and they’ve won four, drawn one and lost one of their last six, while also scoring a lot of goals compared to previously in the season.
Couple this with the fact that I’m not so Gung-ho in my thinking these days and I see this very much as a major banana skin that we need to avoid, if we’re to continue in our challenge for second in the league.
It’s not that I think Blues are as good as us, it’s just the fact that it’s a derby, where we all know the odd simple mistake can decide the game.
So what do we know?
We’re in very good nick, with only the usual long-term sufferers being out.
Lewis Grabben has trained this week, so might get a few minutes, depending on how the game goes, but you’d have to expect that Steve Bruce will yet again make very few, if any at all, changes to the starting eleven.
On the Blues’ part (and I really couldn’t care less) full-back Jonathan Grounds is out with a knee injury.
Winger Jacques Maghoma might make it, after missing the last couple of weeks with a groin problem.
None of it really matters, as it’s all about who wants it the most when it comes to the second city derby, in my opinion.
We’re the better/bigger club, by a mile.
We have the better first X1 and squad.
We have the better everything; it’s as simple as that.
As we all know.
But it means nothing, as derbies are on a level only equalled by the FA cup, in that everything goes out the window.
Where the result can massively inflate/deflate a club’s confidence either way.
That said, the bookies have us as odds-on favourites and they’re no mugs.
And as much as I’m worried about this one, so I refuse to think that the scum can beat us on our own patch.
I’m going for a 2-1 win.
I don’t give a toss who gets the goals and I don’t care how we go about it.
As long as we out-work and out-fight the toe-rags.
The word is that Steve Bruce is hoping to be at the game, after the sad loss of his father, combined with his mother’s ill health.
He has my sincere condolences and I suspect he will indeed make it, purely because he won’t be able to resist such an interesting game. That, plus work takes your mind off things, I’ve found.
Fingers crossed for that Villa win.
UTV!
COYL!
Blues are in good form but so are we. Seems Hogan may be out, which is 100% why we needed a new striker and Grabban could get his start. A good result for us though is Millwall drawing Cardiff.
Where did you read that Andrew – big blow if so as SB will be tempted to play Gabby given that Grabben is short of game time.
Was on a facebook page I’m following so I can’t say for sure it’s true. Just what I’ve read/
To beat the early kick off, I’ve started drinking already! Tough game ahead but I think we’ll do them 3-1
i am happy things at villa are more stable. just has many predicted under Brucie. i am mostly pleased for scotty hogan. who is finally scoring and looks like the player most knew he was. grealish is another player and main reason why villa have improved lately. since returning from injury, he has wasted no time in proving lots of ppl wrong. he has returned like a man possessed. he creates spaces, starts off all villa’s best moves. he has both imagination and skills to carry out his vision.
massive massive game the blues. form doesn’t matter in this one. they will both try to embarrass each other. we need this game to carry on the fine form of late. i havent been impressed with the last game. winning as we have done, brings confidence and arrogance, but it also brings with it the team collectively thinking they have made it and they will stop doing the things, they have improved on and return to the team that makes too many mistakes.
B6 you got 3 /5 last week coupon as did i we needed only one more and we would have got stakes back. i am struggling this week to find 5 need your help so post your 5 i may be using your selections,
i think villa will get a wake up call from the blues, i expect they will score and villa will come from behind late on. 2 2 draw
I think it will be 1-1 because blues will try to make it an ugly scrappy game and we tend to do better against teams that open up at Villa Park. Also our winning run has to come to an end eventually. I hope we win because we can’t allow Derby and Fulham to keep pressure on us. I hope Hogan is fit because the front three with Grealish and Hourihane have developed a great understanding between them.
Sheffield utd 1 up against Leeds, first 2 minutes .
west ham draw
fulham away
derby draw
notts county away
crewe home
Best of luck Nath.
i have the manflu i couldn’t study the form lol getting my excuses in early
Derby 1-1 Norwich
Now more important than just beating the noses. A win and we’re in second!
a lot of teams dropped poonts today. surprised by the fulham result. just need the win tomorrow
Now that’s some incentive!!!!!!!
Good results for us considering Derby. Fulham and Bristol City were all winning. It would be a big psychological blow to those around us if we win tomorrow and go 2nd. Pressure back on blues with teams below them getting points too.
Wow – if not being a local derby isn’t enough then added pressure from today’s results – or is it?
Of course a win would see us into second and cementing our place in the top six but a draw or loss wouldn’t be a disaster – other than as a Villa fan losing at home to Blues is always a disaster.
Stick or twist?
But then again the psychologist would say we now have nothing to lose – go for it lads.
UTV
Hmm, no mention of Hogan being injured, as far as I can see???
On the contrary Hitch, I’d say we have everything to lose and that’s the worry.
Still, on the positive side, other results went about as well as we could expect.
Are Derby on the brink of fading yet again?
I’m going to say yes, as my Derby mate told me a few weeks back that they still haven’t invested enough in the squad, in his opinion.
It’s what I read, but they could be completely wrong on Hogan.
Derby are in trouble losing their second choice striker and second leading goal scorer in Winnall. Yeah he only has 6 goals and Vydra has 17, but Winnall’s been pretty important to them. Jerome could potentially do the job but who knows? So them fading wouldn’t be surprising honestly.
Which while injuries suck, it helps us. Cardiff are fading, Bristol City are quickly fading and Derby are slowly fading. The fact we could go 2nd tomorrow is huge. Despite their poor result today, I still think Fulham are our biggest contenders with the run they are on which is pretty similar too ours. Could very much be the deciding game after the Derby.
I agree that Fulham are the team I worry about the most out of teams around us. A win tomorrow will see us 7 points clear of them though, so defeat at Craven Cottage wouldn’t be disastrous. The last third of the season could be about strength of squads, and ours is arguably the best. Wolves have the best first eleven and have been lucky with injuries, while now we are spoilt for choice, and Bruce has good players not even making the bench.
Tomorrow’s game is about who wants it the most. If we are up for the fight then our quality should see us through. Only thing that I hate is midday kick off. It seems to put a dampener on a lot of games.
Butterfly butterflies shit never felt like the since I got married 57 years ago.
If we get promoted I’ll get my 4 seats back. Well I said 2-1 Villa and stand by that. Not heard whom in or out keep the same team I’d say.
i am still dying my last request is please win. lol
is this game on tv bill ??
Sky Nath and on Facebook blog,
Jedinak in and Bjarnasson on the bench. Don’t understand that at all. Hope Bruce has got it right. No Gabby today and Grabban instead of Davis.
Jedinak doing well so far. Hope his legs hold up. Hogan deserves a goal for his work rate alone.
YESSSS Adomah pin point shot
Grealish, playing brilliant, through ball to Adomha . Must be a England contender surely.