Hunted Down By Wolves!

Ouch!

Well, let's perhaps write this off as one of those derby matches that was - a derby! They are always unpredictable as to how they turn out, but it was really a game that should have been well and truly in Villa's pockets before half-time. Villa - in my estimation - should have been leading around 3-1 by then.

Cash had three good shooting chances over the whole match and put them all over the top (clearly why he's not a forward!) and Ings could possibly have done better when put through by Beundia. Apart from other scoring chances that were put wide or over.

But, straight after half-time, despite the rather worrying danger of Adama Troure (how did we let him go?!), we went into that overdue lead and then a second goal when the Wolves defence was beginning to look all at sea.

What happened next turned the match around completely on its head. They made key substitutions, while we made lesser ones ... and they then made their own luck, with the Villa defence looking somewhat loose - as it had throughout the whole match, in fact, but which Wolves failed to capitalise on until late.

Anyhow, that's as it may be, but surely there are lessons to be learnt. Aren't there, Dean?!

I like our manager, but sometimes I wonder whether he's too soft with the players. They very often seem to drop from their true ability, and I thought that showed in defence, though Traore was clearly causing panic just by his own efforts.

Tuanzebe seemed to lack confidence and early on took a crazy free-kick across his own penalty area, giving Wolves a big chance. Konsa looked short of his best self, while Mings was doing things like giving away one or two unnecessary corners. Cash seemed lost in his defensive work (probably because of Villa's wing-back strategy with him as a major part of that).

Well, we may have Bailey ready to be launched, and I liked Beundia's play, though I am expecting him to make a greater impact. But Watkins seems to be looking a bit lost without JG, and a combination with Ings does not seem to be doing that well just now.

The attack may well sort itself out, but the rearguard (apart from the goalie) and midfield are not quite there, for some reason. Maybe it's the three centre-back formation that's causing a problem now, but if so, why did it look so commanding against Man U? Unless that was because of Man U - as was seen yesterday with such big names looking like prima donnas.

I fear that we have a way to go before a good team really gels. We probably have the players, but for how long can McGinn play as he is before he gets wallopped? We do have both Bailey and Sanson still to start league matches this season, and they may both develop and be the key to Villa's success, aided by the others.

Hey ho! Now to win at Arsenal...

UTV!