Doesn’t it?
It has to be surely, because while I know we’re not playing them at home, their record there is simply horrendous and they haven’t won at the Stadium of light in 20 games.
Quite simply, this means they’re a poor side, which even their own fans (un)happily admit.
Still, while on paper this ought to be one of the easiest games of the season, so I still have nagging doubts that it will be anything like easy.
Years of the Villa disappointing us are ingrained in me. Couple this with the fact that I am now never totally convinced that we’re going to win and it always leaves me concerned before a game.
And then there’s the new manager bounce thing, with Chris Coleman taking over (which I think will come back to haunt him as a terrible decision).
Talking of which, I saw the goals in the Millwall – Sunderland game today and the goalkeeping was absolutely shocking for all four goals.
Let’s hope Ruiter is equally as poor today, eh?
We have the same injuries with John Terry, Jonathan Kodjia, Scott Hogan,Jack Grealish and Henri Lansbury, Gabby Agbonlahor and Andre Green all out.
The good news is Ahmed Elmohamady, Jack Grealish, Henri Lansbury and Mile Jedinak are all available. So Bruce could change things up if he wants too.
Sunderland will be without Marc Wilson, Jonny Williams and Duncan Watmore after all three were forced off on Saturday.
Midfielder Lee Cattermole serves a one-match ban, for reaching five bookings, so you would think they’re even more weakened.
How will Steve Bruce approach this one then?
Well, for me, we have to go for it from the off.
We have enough quality to get the early goal and if we can, you have to think that the Sunderland’s players heads will drop. They’ve conceded the second highest amount of goals this season, after all.
I don’t see Bruce changing things up much, but it’s possible Jedinak might get a look in, possibly along with Grealish, to add some creativity.
I suspect it’ll be no change for the kick-off though.
It has to be a straightforward win tonight and I’m going 2-1, although we really shouldn’t concede at all, strictly speaking, in my opinion.
UTV and here’s hoping.
Comments
26 responses to “Villa – Sunderland; It has to be 3 points”
This has to be a win, it’s as simple as that.
Unchanged then.
Adomah, again, 1-0.
There’s the early goal!
Badger you are talking to yourself!
Yep, it seems like it.
Yet you still answered 🙂
Dodgy Ruiter goalkeeping again, from a corner.
Just a comment on our bench. 5 mids, goalkeeper and full back. No fit striker left at the club? Better cross fingers for Davis then
DSVilla, Yes, that’s a concern.
But Adomah’s firing, so Bruce might actually get away with it.
Just looked around a couple of other Villa sites and it seems no-one is particularly interested there, either.
2-0
Keep going younVilla boys
Sunderland had most possesion in the first half.
Apparently a poor game and a poor atmosphere.
Onomah makes it 2-0 with a deflected shot from the edge of the box.
We should be home and hosed but this is Villa! I do expect us to play bettter though. I’m grateful for any kind of win but we should be capable of more.
And Sunderland make it 2-1.
I knew it.
AVTV is utter, utter dogshit!
Grealish on.
Villa fans heading for the exits.
Already???
Bristol 0 -2 preston.
We should climb tonight, I think?
Adomah off, Elmohamady on
Elmohamady goes up top???
Villa sitting far too deep, Bruce urging them forward.
What’s that about?
Scruffy win but a win.
Felt sorry for you Badger, you sounded lonely
Yep, a win.
But it was painful, see the latest post.
Awful performance but we won so can’t moan. If we play that badly on Sat we won’t beat Ipswich that’s for sure. I still think our best consistent player is Hutton but it’s just like Bruce to drop him for that useless twat Elmo
Great result. Just keep chipping away. We finally have a team that believes in themselves to grind out results. And that is what gets you out of this league. If we are in the mix come January I am sure we will add some more needed quality to the squad to give us best possible chance of automatic promotion. We’ll done lads. #Fightlikelions.
We can’t add anyone in Jan we’ve no money unless we sell of course. Other than a forward we don’t really need anyone Gabon at Sunderland is a good punt if we could get him. O hare not on bench tonight and Elmo bought back what’s potato head playing at.
Yes, fair points, but that was as dire as it gets, even though we won.
A piss-poor experience for me tonight.
See the next post 🙂