Our last three games have all been very tough propositions, yet we coped with them all really well, scoring eight goals and only conceding one (a somewhat flukey one, too).
I still can’t get my head around how much better we’ve been with Grealish back in the side.
But that aside, I mentioned previously that some teams currently in the top six might falter.
Indeed, it seems Derby are already in their annual free fall act as we speak, having taken only nine points from their last eight games.
As for Villa’s last eight games, we’ve taken twelve points. But when you consider we’ve taken nine in the last three, it shows how bad our previous form was (three points in the previous five games).
No wonder we all thought we hadn’t got a chance of promotion.
Which leads me on to Middlesbrough, who have taken eleven points in eight games, but importantly, have lost their last two games (at home) albeit to good opposition in Preston and Brentford.
Interestingly, they have quite a poor record at home, but have a very decent record away.
Which makes sense, with the way Pulis sets his teams up to not concede, while trying to hit on the break.
Which, while dead boring is obviously quite successful, because they have by far the meanest defence in the league having conceded only 28 goals.
Squad news and on our part, nothing has changed.
El Ghazi is fit, after he went off with an arm problem.
Tuanzebe and Lansbury should be available for the Blackburn game and Chester and Hutton are doing light training.
As for Boro, the big news is that defender Dani Ayala has successfully appealed his sending off on Wednesday and will be available. Otherwise, I’m not seeing much else about them, but Pulis has suggested he might “freshen things up”.
I really don’t see that Dean Smith will change anything for this game.
John McGinn quickly re-staked his claim for a place and has to start.
It’s tempting to think that El Ghazi might be replaced by Green, but I think the manager will be prepared to give the Dutchman another game, as he definitely sees that he does have some threat.
An unchanged team then, with similar subs to the other night.
It’s actually a very nice position for Smith to be in, as the team is pretty much picking itself.
It seems to me our biggest problem is going to be unlocking Boro’s defence.
We definitely have the tools to do it, but we have to be very wary that they don’t catch us on the break, although fortunately that’s not quite the problem it was earlier in the season.
I don’t see many goals and strongly think the first goal could easily prove the winner.
Let’s hope it’s us that gets it and condemns Boro to their third consecutive defeat, which could easily send them on their way to the “wheels falling off”.
Villa to win 1-0 in a very cagey game.
Fingers crossed, but I retain my confidence.
A win, not a draw is required.
I actually fancy us getting all three points. Boro will sit back and that will suit us, I honestly think that Jack and McGinn can unpick their defence.
However, I won’t say what the score will be as we’ve been doing so well since I last gave a prediction.
COYL
Imho I think Pulis would settle for a draw here so agree with you Badger that he will set up defensively and hope to grab a goal. Expect us to have a lot of possession – an early Villa goal is what we need.
Staying away from predictions but a win would set us up nicely for the International break.
what a difference 3 wins on the bounce makes, to the team and the fans lol three games ago, nobody really except the few and the delusional thought the season wasnt over. the players and manager knew and they are now performing their best stuff all season. they have excellent shape with the ball, full backs units are really functioning, centre backs are now able to command the backline and come out with the ball comfortably. midfield is finely balanced. we are now a team finally.
can we beat middlesbrough yes we can, they will play like all pulis teams they will try to get set pieces around the box and corners to create scoring opportunities, but their style will allow us lots of ball and we are on fire and will create chances and now capable of finishing them. easy days work 3 nil and for once i really do stand by the 3 nil
the leeds and sheff utd game i will watching. the loser will be our greatest opponents in the playoffs . keep the faith.
Hope you’re right Nath.
Off today for a few days to the county of hops and great pubs, gearing up for final (?) ‘booze cruise’ on Tuesday. Hope I’ll be celebrating with my mates tonight.
About the score I mean; agree with your comments about the team finally playing like a team. We need some luck now with no more injuries which have disrupted us all season,
i just enjoyed a few days off and fully refreshed. hope you enjoy yours.
villa players are all pulling their weight, they all know their jobs and they are full of confidence it will take a very very good team to knock off off this feeling. middlesbrough don’t have the tools to do that.
anybody hear the commentary on the forest goal, also some reaction to this goal by experts and fans. to suggest steer was at fault with his positioning is wrong. he had to defend the near post area. he closed all the right angles down,so the only way the ball could get past him was over his head. which is what happened. it was a cross and as badger said fluky.
villa first goal was a goalie error, off course its a great strike, but the goalie should be defending the near post, but he anticipates the shot to the back post leaving a generous gap which mcginn found.
i think steer has been very solid since coming back in, he also been very well protected.
I did Nath hear something of that nature about Steer but to be honest a bit of both.fluke on chipping it and yes Steer did not anticipate that ball., Wondered where you gone Nath nearly asked on post as was unusual after that great win.I myself running round looking after wife and grandchildren as wife had a hip replacement last week. Yes looking forward to the game today and not giving any predictions as didn’t last game and won.if we anything goes Tits up today I’m blaming Badger, hes predicted. utv.
because he covered his near post correctly, that always leaves room for perfect chip or fluke to sail in, as its not easy to backtrack quick enough.to prevent that sort of chip. but for me he did the correct thing, cause if he doesn’t cover the near post as he did, he will be better positioned for the chip but the front post would have been wide open.
iam looking forward to this villa game, but i doubt bora can make it a good game, they will sit very deep and try to spoil the villa game that way. looking forwards to watching leeds and sheff utd that will be a cracker. leeds have been great all season and so have sheff utd, both play very aggressively. so i am predicting a classic 2 4 to utd lmao i mean sheff utd
A win today will be a massive boost. If we can win it will be 12 points in 4 games against teams in the play offs or just outside (and above us) at time of playing. I’m confident of the win today. i just think we are too good going forward for them, and we are much better at the back since Mings and Hause have come in. Good work by Smith getting them in.
Just noticed that, with Derby and Bristol City not playing today, if we win we’ll go sixth!
Of course Derby and Bristol City will have games in hand but it would still be nice to be in one the play-off spots if only for a while.
COYL
I like it Pat 57, watching Leeds and Sheffield up till now I see no broblems be a draw.
All Leeds but Sheffield came back into it and should be ahead. Football ‘s not great but I’m wondering how much of that is down to the weather?
At VP it’s forecast to be 40 mph plus winds and rain and this could make life difficult for defences.
No prediction from me again as I don’t want to tempt fate. Got to say Grealish coming back has been a major boost for us. Also Mings has been brilliant since he came in. The concern we had when we signed him was could he stay injury free. If he does then I think he will be as important as Grealish coming back. Team selection wise I wouldn’t change anything. We have a strong substitutes bench if things not going to plan. I hope Abraham can get a goal today because he’s going through a relatively lean spell by his standards.
Really tight race for automatic promotion with Sheff Utd winning at Leeds. I think of the 3 teams Sheff Utd are the ones I would least want to face in the play offs. Our last two games against Norwich and Leeds means we will possibly have a big say in who goes up. All tough though.
how much added time was the referee going to add on at elland road ??? answer just until leeds equalized. that will be a very costly defeat janson injured goalie red carded and over taken in the final furlong.
we just hitting form at the right period of season. another 3 points today and we are into the playoffs and closed down middlesbrough in 5th
It looked that way Nath, he just didn’t want to blow.
dont know about you, but sheffield almost blew that lead trying to hold on to it. should have pressed home on their advantages. extra man a injured player and momentum. could and should have seen this out easier
i think of the norwich leeds and sheff utd. i would rather play norwich. but each off them are difficult in their own way. we should not fever anybody. aslong as we play with the same shape and belief we can match and better them all
I did, and if you remember the goalkeeper came up and had to get back, what did Sheffield do, took his time in the kick.the lad couldn’t run.
i know madness, you smell blood in sport you gotta go and finish um off. they payed the price at vp trying to play out time. they havent learned the lesson
Hourihane not in the squad.
Carroll takes his place.
Oops, Whelan takes his place.
Injured or dropped?
McGinn playing a blinder
I’m being told paddy power got the match
Yes, El Ghazi!
1-0