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Its also not just any team we have beaten, its not a Newcastle or Fulham. Its actually away to the greatest Premier League team and manager of all time

Ditto....I am 70 tomorrow, so a great early present for me from Avfc.

Did you have a good time? If Bale keeps up this form we'll do very well to finish above Spurs but it shows how well we're doing for it to be a consideration this season. Certainly ahead of where many (including me) thought we would be...

I just offered my one year old a quaver. He stuck his hand in the bag, grabbed as many as he could, crushed them in his fist, threw the crumbs on the rug and ran off laughing. It's like high school all over again.

One tactical change that Smith made that was noticable was not playing out from the back and instead hitting it forwards earlier. Yes, it wasn't pretty but it stopped what Leeds wanted to do and that was press us high up the pitch. In the second half apart from the Raphinha header (he looks a quality player to be fair) we contained Leeds by limiting the space they could play in. Also sensisble to employ those tactics on that woeful pitch.

Bielsa's post match interview was pathetic. We were better than them in the first 15 minutes, but how we were better than them then was nothing compared to how much better than us they were for the rest of the match. A nonsense interview from a bizarre man, who I would hate to have managing us. A ghoulish man whose internet history would be pretty suspect I imagine. I'd say his passwords are very very strong. You can't hide that kind of deviance. It seeps through pores.

Just looking at the Roberts vs. Targett moment again and it's Hinchcliffe who makes it strange with his commentary. Targett grabs Roberts and gets (correctly) booked for delaying the game, but then Roberts swings his left leg and his left arm at Targett, he misses with the arm but kicks Targett on his calf, from which Targett goes down. Hinchcliffe doesn't notice the kick so starts asking "Why has Targett gone down there?" and suggests he's dived to get Roberts into trouble. Ultimately I think the ref has got it right, I don't think Roberts deserves a red, even though he has kicked out at his man, and swung an arm at him, I think it's borderline but yellow was okay - but what's really a pity is that Targett comes out of it with an accusation of foul play caused almost entirely by a co-commentator who seems incapable of seeing what's in front of him. Hinchcliffe is an idiot. There is no dive and no simulation - he's up pretty quickly and there's no attempt to make things look worse than they are, in fact, the only Villa player talking to the referee is McGinn who is asking about a penalty shout from a moment before. To somehow put this in the same category as Llorente's antics earlier in the game is ridiculous.

Gareth Southgate, “I’ve watched Aston Villa twice in the last week and Jack Grealish was completely anonymous, he just didn’t show up. I even wrote a note, with my new Parker pen, to remind me to tell Mason how rubbish he was.”

Never done a job on the opposition tactically y'know.

I'm not seeing a lack of work, it's more the effectiveness of that work that can improve. When he first signed he wasn't really tracking back. Now he is, but doesn't seem to know what to do when he gets there. He's maybe 12 months of solid improvement away from being a £40m winger.

I don't subscribe to the slagging off of Leeds.....They are a good side. We beat them, with a real savvy performance.......lets just move on. We are Aston Villa, lets remain gracious.

This is the first time in 4 years that we already know (in February) which division we’ll be playing in next season. The extra 3 months planning that we’ll get should serve us well in the summer. I expect we’ll be in for another exciting summer now we’ve established ourselves again.

123,000 dead Theft of millions of pounds. Brexit ‘deal’ closing companies. The vote against helping people impacted by Grenfell. Now is not the time to point these things out? If that’s opposition, it’s pathetic.

This thread is weird. People arguing that they don't hate Barkley whilst berating him after every game; can't we just get behind every player in the squad for a season?! Ross was taken out of the firing line yesterday; it was a game that didn't really suit him against a high energy team. You need legs in games like that with players who can get about the pitch and put themselves about, that isn't Barkley's game. Against Sheffield United this week and Newcastle in two weeks; with Grealish back (hopefully) it will suit Barkley much better in a game where he has time to get on the ball and play. It's all about utilising the squad and it's something we haven't done well enough this season up until yesterday. Dropping Luiz and Barkley was for the good of the team and we gained 3 points from it. I for one hope to see Barkley back in the squad and firing again soon as he's a brilliant player, as shown in his early season performances.

Remember when crosses used to come into our box and it got people worried? Yeh, that’s not a thing anymore. A phenomenal keeper. Can’t wait for the Holte to show him the love he deserves at a full Villa Park.

He serves a purpose. perfectly good squad player, can blow hot and cold. Seems a good egg, and good attitude. Can pop up with a goal, won’t dull and upset squad morale. Didn’t cost a lot, and can’t imagine he’s on huge wages. Has played some blinding games, has had some equally awful moments. Why we’re hell bent on trying to push these kinds of player out the door is beyond me. His usefulness will come to a natural end as the quality of the squad improves, but for where we are right now, he’s a perfectly good squad option.

Let's be real Targett 100% did a cringey, shithouse-y dive over nothing and was also lucky to not get a 2nd yellow late on, it's just that Llorente had already done an even more comically exaggerated shithouse-y performance in the first half, and Klich had already committed two fouls (the latter preventing a break on halfway) while on a yellow before Targett did. What's the ref meant to do Nobody exactly comes out of it looking like the model of sporting integrity Furthermore, I can all but guarantee the only reason those rough Villa centre backs went to such efforts to stop Bamford from playing was because he happened to have been to private school, it's disgraceful and nobody's ever even remotely interested in hearing out my proposal to have all non-Bamford players get down on both knees at the start of a match in protest at this kind of anti-elite prejudice

Huge next 5 games coming up Sheff utd (a) - bottom of the league and poor but not gonna underestimate anyone. They beat utd away. We will have more of the ball. Take our chances we win. Wolves (h) - tough game as they have been picking up form but have been poor this year and if we are on form a draw minimum. Newcastle (a) - should be beating these but havent fared well at st james for a while. Spuds (h) - depends which spurs team turns up. Anything could happen in this. Fulham (h) much improved but they struggle to score so again put our chances away and we win. Potential for 9 -11 points and we are right in contention for europe

No wonder your lad bullies you.

Dale Stephens coming on for Burnley. Nice of Julie Bailey to let him out of her cellar.

Travelled with the squad to Leeds yesterday, Good Sign that's he going to be staying

The worst thing for me is the play acting to try and get people booked or sent off. Even when Grealish goes to ground he doesn't flop around like a fish out of water pretending to be on death's door and, as many have said, he is genuinely fouled most of the time anyway. In terms of the match last night, I can understand why some Leeds fans would be miffed that Targett wasn't sent off as he did commit a few fouls that some refs would have given a yellow for. If anything though, I think the play acting of some of the Leeds players probably kept Targett on the pitch. Boy who cried wolf syndrome.

The problem is that you need legs in every premier league game. I’d love to see Barkley back in, but only when he’s willing to get a little dirty in battle. Ready to go in for a 50-50 where there’s a chance he might get hurt. Until he’s ready to put the villa cause above his desire not to get injured, someone who IS should get the nod. Also, who should make way for him, and why? ‘I’m sorry son, but you can’t play against Sheffield United, because they’re shit, and Ross needs a shit team to play against.’ We lose control of these games exactly because of the notion that these teams are shit. You need to control a game. That doesn’t necessarily mean with possession, but rather with position. Alan shearer said yesterday, that although Leeds had the lions share of the game, it was us who looked better, and tactically in control of the game. We don’t owe Barkley any easy games. He needs to earn his place by showing he’s willing to do his bit. If he does that I have NO objection, and indeed would welcome him back. But this bullshit about letting him play against sheff utd or Newcastle because they’re a bit shit is just the wrong mentality.

That sliding tackle where he didn't just win the ball but controlled it and came away with it

To be fair to Leeds it's not as if they have a history of diving... Check out this guy doing the full worm!

He has never let us down, credit where it is due to him and to Bruce an absolute bargain for £1m and hope he stays at the club beyond this season.

Classic El Ghazi. If he has success with his first action of the match then he feels like his dick is knocking his kneecaps and has a strong game. If he gets bullied a couple of time instead, then he finds it hard to pick up from that. Probably the biggest 'confidence player' I've ever seen.

Your team lost fair and square. No need to hate on our players.

#prayforvillalad21

The Big 6, what crap. 2 of them teams arent even in the top 6 and one of them is 22 points behind the top team

Is it me or is there something completely odious about Bruno Fernandez? Maybe it's because he plays for the red trash but I cannot stand his slimy little face and play acting.

Glenn Roeder (65) carks it after a long illness

I just drove past a young lass, probably in her early 20s wearing massive baggy ‘mom jeans’. I said to my Mrs P, “Look at her jeans, they’re huge. Gen Z have declared skinny jeans are out now you see, I read about it the other day” Mrs P said “I thought you were going to point out her huge tits. No bra, wobbling all over the place and her nipples pointing through her little cardigan”. I completely missed it. I’m never going to forget my glasses ever again.

My era was The Institute, Edwards No.8, Snobs, The (short lived) Foundry and The Hummingbird/Academy. Had great nights in all!

Anwar El Ghazi waited 671 days to return to that penalty area and stick the ball in the Leeds net. Love it!

Antidepressants!

Yawn - why? He hasn’t done enough in the Prem in a better Chelsea team to be worth the fee they’ll demand and expect. Misplaced false nostalgia IMO, better value and players available. Thanks no thanks

I don't really mind people going down in order to ensure they get a free kick - I mean, whatever. It happens. It's the rolling around and feigning injury in order to get the opposition booked/sent off that leaves a bad taste. Bamford, Alioski (even if Pepe probably should have gone), Llorente and Hernandez have all done this in very recent memory - purely to try and force cards. It's grim. In fact, for Bamford (x2 if you include the penalty dive), Llorente and Hernandez, that's 4 examples in the last 3 games we've played against them. As you say, it points to a much bigger cultural issue at the club. I don't think it's necessarily being coached in - I genuinely think Bielsa is pretty 'honest' - but it's clearly prevalent amongst the players.

That probably best answers the Luiz vs Nakamba debate. Luiz probably better vs certain teams. It's nice to finally have options

If he's going to come back into the team, Sheffield United is as good a game as any. Especially since it's a midweek game and he had zero minutes in his legs yesterday. Give McGinn a rest and have him ready for Wolves.

Well I put a quid on a tenfold, including Villa, and got 9 right with a missing Stoke goal meaning I missed out on £9500.

@Jimzk5 I've known you on here for 15 years now, so it's hard hearing what you've been through in the last 12 months. You know VT well enough now to know that you've got a group of guys who are all here for you, whatever you need and whenever you need it. You're not on your own with this.

Showed today why he should have started a number of our recent games, hope he keeps his place.

That's easy, you literally described a number 8.

I'm going to put this back out there because it really is quite astonishing. We have now kept more clean sheets at this stage of a season than ever before in our entire history. Incredible what is happening here under Dean Smith.

Deeply grateful, as we all should be, to be afforded entry to the patented Leeds Temple of Explosive Football, where the hair flows as free as the football! Just count those second half shots on goal! On a treacherous pitch that seemed to be comprised of at least 60% percent algae, we calmly dominated in the Arsenal/Leicester spoiler mood I've come to greatly appreciate. Made Leeds look patently ordinary, at times desperate with a very organised and committed team performance. Silly side point: Pablo Hernandez now resembles one of those anti-drug before and after posters. My nightmares will thank him later. Martinez 8- One day the officials will get smart to the super glue on his gloves, the dynamite in his boots and the time-slowing device he manages to smuggle into the ground. But not today. When Meslier joined the 'attack' at the end it was a bit like Martinez had brought his grandson to work. Top man. Konsa 8- His largely flawless positioning is a given, but I'm still impressed at how it allows him the perfect vantage for judicious interventions and hustles. Which he pulls off with cold-blooded grace. Mings 8- Is it just me or has Mings' back-to-basics resurgence compelled him to rely more on his outstanding athleticism than his 'silky' skills? Didn't look like being bested by anyone today. Marshalled proudly. Targett 7- Has become one of our most dependable performers whilst adding a pleasing bite and an improved endurance to his game. Elmo 7- Clearly quite creaky but his experience proved particularly useful as the game went on. Still got a wicked cross on him. Nakamba 7- The tenacity and energy of a terrier. The passing ability of a... terrier. I have theorised that this is because Nakamba possesses the smallest feet ever to have grace the Premier League. I think Jack borrows his shinpads. But key to our game today. Ramsey 7- Hope we're witnessing the evolution of a class act as we integrate him into the first team. A very intuitive performance, which is to say intelligent and composed. Pleasingly energetic with some unexpectedly positive and progressive play. Doesn't seem at all out of place. McGinn 5- The optimist in me wonders if McGinn's struggles are symptomatic of our ambitious progression into a more complete team. But a big part of me looks at the regularity of clumsy, flustered play and feels a real sadness. Maybe lock him in a sauna for a week? El Ghazi 7- Faded a little, but was very much up for this game. His goal suggests once more that the instinctive El Ghazi is a far sharper player than the one he overthinks in his head. And goals really do give him that spinachy punch! Traore 5- Not at the races unfortunately. His best comes when we are a surging and fluid unit and our more conservative approach coupled with the deceptive swamp of the pitch seemed to leave him a bit befuddled. He'll be back. Watkins 7- His final third work rate was again phenomenal. Sisyphusean dominating of the channels. Seemed a wee bit tired, but he's gonna be some force when he improves at the rate of some of our longer serving players. Sanson 7- A neat little cameo from our French bon bon. Trezequet 6- Two silly runs, one oddly magnificent, the other very naive.

I wouldn't bank on it