Penalty? I Saw Red!

The early over-casual cross-field ball from Targett and the indifferent play of El Ghazi began to make me think that Villa were still bleary after their New Year celebrations, especially when McGinn's good attempt did not tear a hole through the back of the net as it would if it had possessed the power of his effort at Chelsea. And then, when Mings altogether missed his headed clearance to allow Man U to score, I felt that my early thought had been confirmed!

But, if anything, Villa seem to be a second-half team these days, and it was something of a different story in the second half. When the well-worked equaliser went in I thought, "Villa are waking up". The euphoria didn't last long - a 6-of-one and half-a-dozen of the other situation in Villa's penalty box resulted in Pogba giving a good demonstration of a dying (or diving) swan and the ref and VAR team fell for it. Ah, well, perhaps they love ballet.

And it was being played at Old Trafford, wasn't it?

Villa had their chances, and but for a very good piece of defensive work, Al Ghazi's attempted diving header would surely have gone in. But it was Martinez at the other end that pulled off the save of the match to make sure we did not go 1-3 down.

I have to say, though, that bar the last 15 minutes, they had the edge and a 1-goal win to them was probably about right. However, it took some clogging from them in those last 15 minutes to keep their lead intact, and Davis very nearly thumped home an equaliser.

Well, let the Reds have their moment. I feel that Villa are heading in the right direction and that we're not too far off the desired level to really trouble the so-called 'big boys'. 

My main concern now is the state of the fixture list in January and early February. A rate of two matches every week after next week is to be faced, and if we do beat 'Pool in the Cup next week (I wouldn't be surprised if a replay is needed) then another Cup match will only make the fixture list worse.

08-01-2021 H Liverpool FAC(R3)
13-01-2021 H Spurs PL
16-01-2021 H Everton PL
20-01-2021 A Man C (re-arranged) PL
27-01-2021 A Burnley PL
30-01-2021 A Southampton PL
02-02-2021 H West Ham U PL
06-02-2021 H Arsenal PL

Not exactly an easy list, is it?! Will we be using the reserves?

UTV!