An unwelcome snake slithered into Villa Park yesterday and spent most of the game sitting upon the bench which has now become its usual habitat. That greedy snake came onto the playing field on 78 minutes and received the welcome it so merited but was happily denied a victory.

Manchester City arrived as table toppers whilst we were embarrassingly propping up the rest of the division. There could only have been one result couldn’t there?

Many of us arrived expecting the worse as we have grown accustomed to seeing it at Villa Park this season. But we left the ground with smiles on our faces rather than frowns and for once not having tasted defeat.

We were encouraged that the first team to be selected by the new boss contained none of the usual shocks. It was in fact unusually near to that which most of us would have selected for the game so we had little cause to question it.

Our new manager was described as a “Wenger clone” by both Henry and Keown yesterday. That will be good enough for me on yesterday’s showing.

We looked organised and our players seemed aware of what was expected of them. We played some very nice one and two touch football. Our defence showed a steely determination not to be breeched and achieved a very rare clean sheet. We continue to lack a cutting edge up front but did suggest that we might have it in us to play our way out of the mess we are now in.

Manchester City were below their best in the first half and our players will have been encouraged that they went in level at the interval. Our opponents did improve in the second half and had opportunities to win it. They may claim that we rode our luck and clung onto our point. But we earned our valuable fifth point of the season yesterday along with any luck that may have been with us.

This result will not keep us up in isolation. But it stops our run of defeats and does provide us with hope that we can turn things around in what is left of this season to finish it with three clubs below us. The new boss now has the international break to work with those players who are not away on international duty. All we ask for is a second new manager “bounce” in two seasons to rescue us from the unthinkable.                    

My player ratings from a game that provided grounds for optimism that were missing before it are:

Brad Guzan – 7 – Kept out a low Kolarov shot at his near post on 17 minutes which bounced off him for a corner. Brad needed to have a third player in his wall for Kolarov’s 52^nd minute free-kick from the edge of the area. His shot was hit past the 2-man wall and was fumbled rather than caught by Brad keeper but fortunately Clark was on hand to clear the loose ball. Spread himself well 5 minutes later when Sterling ran between Hutton and Richards to connect with a Navas cross only to see his unchallenged close range header bounce clear off Brad’s head. Oh and I just have to mention that free-kick that he put straight out! 

Alan Hutton – 8 – Alan worked tirelessly as he always does. He was very solid at the back.                                

Jordan Amavi – 8 – How could he possibly not have been selected in recent games?      

Michah Richards – 8 – He was so determined to not be on the losing side yesterday.                                 

Ciaran Clark – 8 – Gave everything he had to keep their forwards at bay and produced a very committed performance                           

Carles Gil – 8 – MOTM – Carles fitted into the way we played yesterday so easily. Was held back on 35 minutes when in the process of running on to a superb ball played from inside his own half by Gueye for him.

Jordan Veretout – 8 – Looked increasingly confident during this game and can build upon this encouraging performance with a run of games.

Carlos Sánchez - 8 – Carlos seemed much more comfortable in our midfield yesterday. He along with his colleagues seemed aware of what was expected from them and produced it.                  

Idrissa Gana – 8 – He was a touch hesitant to begin with but soon found his feet and played a crucial role in what was a solid midfield display. Hit a 14^th minute shot wide of the post from outside of the box.

Scott Sinclair – 7 – An encouraging performance from Scott after some recent ones that had been below par. Returning to his goal-scoring early season performances would be timely.  

Jordan Ayew – 7 – Ran himself into the ground yesterday. Given service he will get goals and he merits a run in the team for me.          

Substitutes:

Charles N’Zogbia – 7 - Replaced Gil on 65 minutes for his first outing since the FA Cup Final. When he is up for it he can provide the sort of measured crosses Gestede could feed on. Brought out of the cold by the new boss and needs to reward him for that with his performances for us during the rest of this season. Hit a sweet cross on 70 minutes that Sagna just got to and turned out for a corner before Sinclair was able to reach it.     

Leandro Bacuna – 7 - Replaced Sinclair on 72 minutes. Played a nice one-two with Ayew that started in our own half and touched the ball into space past Kolarov only for Hart to come off his line and beat him to it.

Rudy Gestede -  Replaced Ayew on 88 minutes and flicked a Veretout corner just over the bar that he had himself won in controversial circumstances. Not on long enough to claim a rating.

Stay up Villa!

John Lewis