An efficient three points for Villa…
An efficient three points for Villa…
After Villa’s mildly embarrassing exit from the FA Cup the week before, the expectations aroused by the goal-fest against Bristol City had mainly been dissipated in much talk about loss of momentum and such like, as Bruce’s boys lined up against Nottingham Forest last Saturday teatime. In fact there were a few nerves amongst the faithful in evidence during the build-up to the kick-off. Terry had returned along with Glenn Whelan. Bruce had opted for Grealish in midfield and decided that Scott Hogan was his preferred striker. There was no Neil Taylor either. It was quite a change from the eleven which we had assumed was the only combination that worked. Memories of the loss against Peterborough were vivid. Forest had beaten Arsenal recently and they had a new manager. The fans were in no mood to get carried away. But it turned out that the contest never really took off, as Villa let Forest dominate the possession while they controlled the game. Once Scott Hogan had showed a striker’s instinct and headed Villa in front from a perfect ball from Robert Snodgrass, Villa were in total control. With their expectations held in check the Villa faithful were therefore delighted. Any neutrals watching on the telly-box might not have been so sanguine, but it was a very efficient performance by Villa.
The game itself was not that great and was only entertaining in the Robbie Williams sense of the word. When the TV people did the edit for the highlights they missed out the first eighteen minutes, up to the moment when Villa scored, which left out a rather nasty foul on Albert Adomah by Matt Mills which deserved a card of some colour. Once Hogan had scored Villa dominated thereafter and Snodgrass once again demonstrated his quality when he whipped in a pacey curving ball from a free-kick on the left, which John Terry crashed against the Forest bar. Forest counter-attacked in numbers and amazingly won a free-kick near the corner of Villa’s box on the right, after minimal contact from Grealish. Nothing came of it and Villa were quickly back on attack when Grealish fed Adomah on the left but his cross landed on the roof of the Forest net, with the unmarked Snodgrass offering him quizzical looks. Forest had an opportunity to test Johnstone with a free-kick from the right side of the Villa box but Everton loanee Kieren Dowell put it past Villa’s near-post.
At half-time Bruce swapped Bjarnason for the injured Whelan and Villa looked even more in control as he tidied up nicely in midfield areas. As the second-half progressed Forest were looking increasingly frustrated and Snodgrass was deliberately tripped when he dribbled past several defenders and was about to enter the penalty-area with space enough to put in a cross. Strangely the perpetrator Traore avoided a booking. Snodgrass whipped in the free-kick which goalkeeper Smith managed to paw away and it was cleared downfield in earnest. Villa were still in charge and Grealish and Adomah exchanged passes on the left. Grealish launched what looked like a knuckleball which whizzed past the far post. Another penetrating run from Grealish, put in Adomah who put in a dangerous cross which was cleared over his own bar by Mancienne. Forest produced an excellent passing move which ended with them being awarded a free-kick on Villa’s left for an El Mohamady hand-ball, which seemed a bit harsh. Once again it was Dowell who took the kick and it skidded off Bjarnason’s head onto a Forest bean and soared over the Villa bar. Villa counter-attacked through a great run by Adomah but he was dispossessed on the edge of Forest’s area, fairly said the referee, and they countered with a smart move down the left and Brereton put in a clever ball through the narrowest of gaps, for the onrushing McKay, but the latter’s weak shot was easy-peasy for Johnstone to gather in. Grealish had a late opportunity for a shot, which he hit high wide and not too handsomely into the stands. Forest had their own opportunity to produce a spectacular equaliser, when Dowell produced a gorgeous left-foot shot from the edge of the box, which Johnstone was forced to tip over. Bruce gave Davis a taste in the last few minutes and he battled through to help set up Adomah for a tap-in but Albert was miles off-side. Villa had to be satisfied with one-nil. Forest had played some eye-catching football but had failed to create many serious problems for Villa.
It was a resolute performance by Villa, with Snodgrass producing some real quality, including a great assist for the goal. Grealish was all touch, poise and precision in attacking positions but most of all it was a great team performance, with, importantly, no glaring or costly individual errors. A no fuss efficient win which was probably a better demonstration of Villa’s quality than the romp against Bristol City. It certainly proved that Bruce has as many dilemmas as he has options. The main one being whether to pick Hogan or Davis. Hogan is the more instinctive striker but the whole team looks better with Davis playing. Hogan looks more likely to score but Davis creates more opportunities for Adomah and the rest of the midfield.
Villa’s away win and three points left me well contented through the week, and my positive mood didn’t change until I heard the sad news of the tragic early death of Cyrille Regis. Predictably his story was reported with more emphasis on the political obsessions of our day but I think those who saw him play, will remember the man, and what a man he was. He will always be remembered at his peak, when he played for the Baggies, but for myself, I remember his Villa days with great fondness. At 33 he still had the awesome power which invites such admiration from the ordinary fan but he used it with such gallantry against the young pretenders who might have thought he was past it. Over his career he had battled his way from the Athenian League to an England shirt. He overcame barriers and personal tragedy, with stoicism and dignity. He was a tremendous footballer but most of all, he was a Man, my son!
In the meantime as we contemplate the loss of the heroes of our younger years, Villa have a home encounter with the Tykes of Barnsley this Saturday. Barnsley are better known for the poetry of Ian McMillan than the poetry of their football but no doubt will turn up with Yorkshire snow still on their pit boots, determined to follow up their draw with Wolves with some kind of result against Villa. They may be 20 points adrift of Villa and be hovering dangerously close to the danger zone but I am sure they will relish their visit to Villa Park and will be eager to end Villa’s run of three wins in a row. Barnsley’s four draws in six games, with one loss at Fulham and a one-nil away win at Sunderland, suggests they will probably park the bus and hope that Villa will pass themselves to death by cock-up. So Villa probably need an early breakthrough to avoid too much in the way of frustration and the possibility of nasty surprises. If Villa win and Cardiff lose at Sheffield Wednesday, Villa would move up to third and I might just get excited.
Keep the faith!
