Our first home win and only our second league win of this frankly embarrassing season left us all leaving the ground with smiles on our faces and trying to remember how we used to react to winning a home league game.

If our players are to be heroes just for one day then at least we will have the memory of a minimum of one home league win to look back on as we face the drop at some point between now and mid May.

Yesterday we showed that at Villa Park we can beat them, just for one day. Our task is now to build on that win and to make it the start of what would be the greatest and most unexpected of escapes. We are currently 8 points from safety and that sounds a lot better than 11.

To stay up we would need to gather another 27 points for me which looks to be beyond us. It would not need us to show we can beat them, forever and ever but if we pulled off this miracle by getting one less point from our last 17 games than Watford did from their first 17 we can be heroes, forever and ever. It would also lead to a lot of planned street parties being cancelled in the dark side of Birmingham!

We started last night’s game well and played some decent football throughout against a Palace team who appeared to think that turning up at Villa Park was all they would need to do to emerge with all 3 points from the club who were and are still sitting rock bottom of the league. We played as a team and worked exceptionally hard for the victory we deserved last night Fair play to Pardew who said after the game, “I hope they do (stay up) they’re a great club. The PL would not want to lose a club of this magnitude”.    

This Villa team showed spirit, passion and a will to win. These have been rare commodities so far this season and for me the team that took us into double figures points-wise last night should have the opportunity to go again unchanged on Saturday and seek a second successive home win against Leicester. This win can give our team some much needed confidence and belief to take into our coming games.   

Our defence after recovering from the shock of Zaha hitting the far post in the first minute and seeing Delaney get between Lescott and Okore to turn a 27^th minute Cabaye free-kick just wide of the post secured a crucial clean sheet. Our midfield ran for fun and challenged for the ball like terriers. The final third continued to be an issue for us but we got the goal and as Arsenal have proven is the case that is always enough when you are able to keep a clean sheet.

We may well still go down after this win but if we must then let us go down fighting in the way that we fought for every ball last night!   

My player ratings from a game that provided us with a rare league win are:

Mark Bunn – 6 – Had a surprisingly quiet evening but did what little he needed to without undue alarm for the defenders in front of him and with a minimum of fuss.                                                                          

Leandro Bacuna – 8 – Looked very decent as well as composed and reliable at the back last night. He was his usual effective self when getting forward. 

Jores Okore – 7 – Jores was very solid alongside his skipper last night.       

Joleon Lescott – 8 – This was a solid defensive performance and he led by example organising the players around him very effectively. Joleon added our winner on 58 minutes when he towered above two defenders to head Veretout’s corner and Hennessey was unable to gather his header which crossed the line off both of his legs.                                   

Aly Cissokho – 7 – Aly was very steady at the back and did well enough when going forward. Had a 53^rd minute shot from the edge of the box deflected over. We looked a lot more solid in defence with him there and that is what matters for us just now.                            

Jordan Veretout – 8 – MOTM - Didn’t stop running, closing down as well as trying to move us forward last night.   

Carles Gil - 7 – Worked himself into the ground before his late substitution and has now surely shown he is worth a regular starting place.                   

Idrissa Gana – 8 – Got stuck in and did a lot of good work in our midfield. For me this was his best game for us as he continues to get better with each game.

Ashley Westwood – 7 – Did his bit in the middle and worked hard. Hit a 3^rd minute shot just wide of the post from the edge of the box.    

Jordan Ayew – 8 – Our main threat up front worked very hard as he always does and has the spark that worries defenders. Thundered a shot into the side netting on 26 minutes after Kozak had headed the ball onto him. Might have settled our nerves on 85 minutes when he did all of the hard work by cutting into the box and running between 2 defenders before hitting his shot over the bar.   

Libor Kozak – 7 – Libor was back by popular demand and worked his socks off last night looking more comfortable and familiar in the role than the player he replaced has of late. Did all that we could have reasonably expected from him and did well to get a shot in from the edge of the box on 52 minutes that was deflected off a defender and that Hennessey fumbled wide of the post.                 

Substitutes:

Ciaran Clark - Replaced Gil on 91 minutes so was not on long enough to merit any rating.  

Stay up Villa!

John Lewis