On Sunday at 4:20 p.m., or thereabouts UK-time, the pulses of many Villa fans slowed down to a more healthy rate following a league win for the first time after 10 previous matches. During that time, only 2 draws had been obtained, and only 5 goals scored. Of those 5 goals, only one had been scored by a forward - and that had been 10 games before this one.
Villa's opponents in this latest match, Crystal Palace, had the temerity to field two ex-Villa players. Did Mr. Hodgson think they would be extra-fired-up against the Villa? But - worse - they are a club that decided to ditch the old Villa colours some 50-plus years ago. So, looking for their first points in five matches, the Palace came to Villa, thinking no doubt that our old club would lie down and concede them their wish. Thankfully - after all - this proved not to be the weak Villa side that gave up the ghost in 2015-16. This time they made a match of it.
The gaffer, talking of Villa's recent run of defeats, simply said that the recent matches were mostly against top-6 sides. Did he say this as though to say "We'll win this one!"? True, most of our recent matches were too much for this embryonic Villa squad, though we did have some chances against those teams and should have taken some of them. But, for me, against the likes of Zaha, the Palace were not to be thought of as push-overs.
And then we had a player injured before kick-off, and then another within minutes of the kick-off. Both the full-backs in fact. But, luckily, the two subs were probably just what we needed for this match, though Taylor had done a pretty good job.
But Villa's luck didn't look too good when Palace nudged the ball into the net after only seven minutes, only for it to be VAR-ed and declared a no goal. Phew. But I was pleased by the decision - not for the handball that they decided it was - but because Mr. Reina had bounced off one of our old players, Ayew, and was lying on the ground as the ball entered the net.
Ref., you should know by now that no goal is allowed if our keeper is lying on the ground! Says I! 😏
But it was Mr. Trezeguet who lit up the afternoon for me. Two good goals, and it should have been three from him. Yes, Jack probed here and probed there, but does he hack it any more than in the last match? No. Not for me. And as for the penalty cry, when he went into a booth to think about whether he would fall over or not, was too much! If he thought that was a trick worth trying then I'm the proverbial Chinaman! Perhaps I am!
Doubtless that reading through my nonsense you will be thinking I've had a tot or two after that result. No, but the result - by itself - did put a bit more life into me. Until, that is, the Bournemouth result ... Bournemouth had taken two points from their last nine games, so they were 'doing a Villa'. I expected them to be the second team soon to know they are down.
But, near two-thirds of the match gone, and Leicester winning 1-0, this was the commentary:
Then:
Bournemouth won 4-1 due to Leicester's suicide tactics. The third goal a massive deflection and the fourth another Leicester give-away.
It remains for Villa to now do some more catching up. As I see it, they have to get at least 7 points from their three remaining matches to stand a chance. Let's see what happens - though I watch without too much expectation.
But, who knows, after Trez scoring two versus Palace then maybe McGinn will want to score a hat-trick on Thursday! And will Jack decide to up his game?
UTV!
Villa's opponents in this latest match, Crystal Palace, had the temerity to field two ex-Villa players. Did Mr. Hodgson think they would be extra-fired-up against the Villa? But - worse - they are a club that decided to ditch the old Villa colours some 50-plus years ago. So, looking for their first points in five matches, the Palace came to Villa, thinking no doubt that our old club would lie down and concede them their wish. Thankfully - after all - this proved not to be the weak Villa side that gave up the ghost in 2015-16. This time they made a match of it.
The gaffer, talking of Villa's recent run of defeats, simply said that the recent matches were mostly against top-6 sides. Did he say this as though to say "We'll win this one!"? True, most of our recent matches were too much for this embryonic Villa squad, though we did have some chances against those teams and should have taken some of them. But, for me, against the likes of Zaha, the Palace were not to be thought of as push-overs.
And then we had a player injured before kick-off, and then another within minutes of the kick-off. Both the full-backs in fact. But, luckily, the two subs were probably just what we needed for this match, though Taylor had done a pretty good job.
But Villa's luck didn't look too good when Palace nudged the ball into the net after only seven minutes, only for it to be VAR-ed and declared a no goal. Phew. But I was pleased by the decision - not for the handball that they decided it was - but because Mr. Reina had bounced off one of our old players, Ayew, and was lying on the ground as the ball entered the net.
Ref., you should know by now that no goal is allowed if our keeper is lying on the ground! Says I! 😏
But it was Mr. Trezeguet who lit up the afternoon for me. Two good goals, and it should have been three from him. Yes, Jack probed here and probed there, but does he hack it any more than in the last match? No. Not for me. And as for the penalty cry, when he went into a booth to think about whether he would fall over or not, was too much! If he thought that was a trick worth trying then I'm the proverbial Chinaman! Perhaps I am!
Doubtless that reading through my nonsense you will be thinking I've had a tot or two after that result. No, but the result - by itself - did put a bit more life into me. Until, that is, the Bournemouth result ... Bournemouth had taken two points from their last nine games, so they were 'doing a Villa'. I expected them to be the second team soon to know they are down.
But, near two-thirds of the match gone, and Leicester winning 1-0, this was the commentary:
What a shambles! Kasper Schmeichel hits a goal kick into the back of his own player, Wilfred Ndidi. Callum Wilson picks up the ball and Ndidi and Schmeichel combine to bring him down.The penalty was converted and it was 1-1.
Then:
Almost straight from kick-off Solanke is played in down the left of the area, he hits a low shot which Kasper Schmeichel should hold on to really but it squirms over the line.Leicester was losing! 1-2. And then, straight away, they had a player sent off.
Bournemouth won 4-1 due to Leicester's suicide tactics. The third goal a massive deflection and the fourth another Leicester give-away.
It remains for Villa to now do some more catching up. As I see it, they have to get at least 7 points from their three remaining matches to stand a chance. Let's see what happens - though I watch without too much expectation.
But, who knows, after Trez scoring two versus Palace then maybe McGinn will want to score a hat-trick on Thursday! And will Jack decide to up his game?
UTV!
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