WakefieldVillan

This is exactly where I am. I don't particularly think the players need the rest but God forbid we lose Jack or McGinn for the play offs, through picking up an injury at Leeds/Norwich it would be devastating. I think Leeds will be resting players if Sheffield Utd win on Saturday so I think we can still field a reasonably strong side and try keep the winning run going. Look at it another way, players who haven't played much will be chomping at the bit to stake a claim for a play-off place!

Whether we go up or not, I am proud of the players and management team this season and this run has just been incredible! We weren't at our most fluid today and could have done with the second goal just to finish them off earlier but really, 1-0 flattered Millwall greatly. Grealish MOTM closely followed by Mings

Bottom line is we can beat anyone in the play-offs whether that be over two legs or in a play-off final - Providing we play to our capabilities and have our key players playing. I really don't fear any of the teams we could face (including Leeds) however I am not stupid enough to be too cocky as anything could happen and although I would have us favourites no team involved can be ruled out. I'm actually worried about Bolton tomorrow, everyone seems to think it's a given and I hate these types of games but hopefully our mindset is right and the class should prevail.

I think a few weeks ago this was considered a must win match but for me it's more a must not lose now after 7 wins on the bounce has put us in a terrific position. The main reasons I'd settle for a point is them having an extra days rest, us playing 50+ minutes with 10 men and the suspension of Mings. I personally would play Jedinak over Hause (if the latter is struggling) but I can see why some people have concerns, his lack of pace may be targeted, I just feel he's more of a leader and up against Diedhiou I would back him (at least) physically. Either way Tuanzebe and the full backs all need to have solid games if we are to make it 8 in a row. I think the gaffer has some difficult choices to make tomorrow, with both personnel and formation. Does Kodjia come in, buoyed by his goal and performance on Wednesday night and also facing his former club? If so, where does he play? Up front with Tammy or out wide where he maybe less effective? Does Smith freshen things up by bringing in Whelan or Lansbury? Does he play 4-4-2 with 2 natural wide men or a diamond 4 as been suggested on here? Or stick to 4-5-1? More questions than answers for me, if I had to choose I would probably go; Steer Elmo Tuanzebe Jedi Taylor Whelan McGinn Hourihane Grealish Abraham Kodjia But even with the team above I'd have concerns over our energy levels and what some of them have got left in the tank. Prediction 1-1 UTV

Was like the Kodjia of old last night and it was great to see. He has definitely given the gaffer some food for thought for Saturday and will be interesting to see how we line up. I personally don't think we are usually at our best when playing a standard 4-4-2 but a middle diamond might work better with the strength we have in central areas and I think it's in wide areas where we have struggled to find any real consistency. Back to Kodj... Unlike when Tammy stepped up, I never felt for one minute he was going to miss his penalty, none of this silly run up, little stutter, waiting for the keeper ETC, just get the ball on the spot, pick a spot and hit it clean and precise.. and that's exactly what he did! Fair play! I think the goal lifted him and he was a nuisance all half, plus the drag back in the corner with three around him was disgusting

Still on cloud 9... Watched with some Rotherham supporters who were match sponsors for the game and ended up meting and having my photo took with Jack by the away dressing rooms then again on pitch side before the game, I wasn't expecting it at all and it was like a dream come true (even for a 41 year old ). I asked him if he was gonna bag and he said "I hope so" in his strong brummy accent, so I am claiming an assist for etching it in his head! At half-time, I genuinely couldn't see a way back into the game but the second half performance was absolutely brilliant. I rated the managers performance as good, but the more I think about it that needs changing to very good! The decision to play 4-3-2 and bring on Kodjia was so so positive and so refreshing to see. Also after 60 minutes I was urging him to bring on a midfielder to shore things up, but not a thought in his head to do so (until the 88th minute?!) again, so positive. At times in the second half, we looked like we had the extra man, and at worst looked like there was no numerical advantage. The whole team worked tirelessly and in particular the midfield 3 were so impressive. McGinn however, was a cut above. Absolutely faultless display and a catalyst to us turning the game around. A special mention to Kodjia too, who worked more in one evening than he has done all season. On his day, he is better than Abraham for me, well more natural ability. He has set the benchmark now and hopefully this performance will be the start off a personal run of good form (and goals). If I am nit picking the negatives were Mings, who looked shaky prior to the sending off and the first half performance of the whole team left a lot to be desired, but they all made up for that and showed great character and resilience to come away with the points. I was watching in the home end, behind the dug out I had wonderful views of the Villa faithful and the noise coming from the stands were electric. My (Ipswich Town supporting) mate said we have brilliant fans and was a little gutted that we weren't in there with you all so credit to the fans too, they helped to keep the players going! UTV

Rotherham last night, I'm the one breathing in

Pleased he's found a bit of decent form however regardless of which division we are in next season I hope we move him on and strengthen accordingly. All hypothetical but should we get to the play-offs, I would feel more confident with a back four of Elmohamady, Tuanzebe, Mings and Hause (providing Chester is sidelined). Hope he can keep putting in solid performances in the meantime, we know we have goals in our team, just need our defenders to stay switched on (unlike Elmo on Saturday!)

Some good posts in here giving the respect that Rotherham deserve and I hope the Villa team and management do the same, I am sure they will do. Attitude is key in games like this, on paper our squad is much superior but we have to earn the right to play then let the football do the talking. I would be tempted to bring Kodjia for Green and Hourihane for Whelan, but wouldn't be surprised to see the same eleven as Saturday (with Tuanzebe for Hause if the latter is injured). Got a hospitality ticket from a match sponsor for this one, with free beer (positive) but in the home end (negative) so hopefully I can control myself when we hit another late winner Prediction 1-2 UTV

Massive result is massive. Thought we would lose today and even more so when going behind, but fair play to the team for turning it around, albeit a little fortuitously. Voted Steer MOTM because the penalty save made that ending possible and he took a little bit of stick for the goal conceded last week so this will do him the world of good. Derby and Bristol both conceding late goals has made this a beautiful day Bring on Rotherham...

If (and it is still a big IF) we finish in the play off positions, I will be terrified whoever we play, I think that's just what the play off's do to people! In my ideal world I would prefer Norwich to slip out of the top 2 (extremely unlikely) and face them in a semi final with either Bristol City / Derby / Preston in the final. But I think the chances of avoiding facing the teams currently 2nd 3rd and 4th at some point are ridiculously high. Leeds worry me a lot, but more based on me knowing a lot of Leeds fans and losing to them would be horrible. West Brom have individual match winning class players (at this level) in Rodriguez and Gayle. And Sheffield Utd concern me more with the system they play and how we deal that. Whatever happens it is going to be an exciting run in, hopefully we continue this cracking run and then we can worry about our play off opponents later .

Scott Hogan

I can't argue that Leeds played extremely well that day and were deserving winners, but we started the second half on top and their 1st goal came a bit against the run of play and gave them the impetus to go on to victory. From memory, both teams had players missing, but our losses were much more detrimental to us, most noticeably Grealish and Tuanzebe, Bree (although he did ok) played centre-half and but for a stupid mistake by Elmo deep into stoppage time, we would have still took a point from the game. I wouldn't worry too much, since that game, we have a more composed keeper, Elmo & Taylor are starting to at least look like footballers, we have a pretty solid central defensive partnership and of course we have Jack back who changes our whole dynamic. What we would have to do is make sure we match Leeds for passion, desire and work-rate, ability wise we have as much to offer anyone in the league. Anyway, we may not even play them yet so I will get back on topic. Are we going up?! Well prior to our run of wins I had us 7th on the predictor and just missing out by a point, within that prediction though, I had victories against Derby & Boro along with draws at Forest & Blues, so bodes well. 8 cup finals, then hopefully another 3, bring it on...

What a crazy league the Championship is, two weeks ago I thought we were out of contention for the play-off's but then, boom, 4 successive victories and we are now in with a great chance of securing either 5th or 6th place. I don't want to tempt fate but I really believe that we will get one of the final spots providing we don't lose any of our key players (IE Jack, Mings and McGinn). I know it has been said on numerous occasions but the loss of Grealish is the reason for me why we are just challenging for play off's as opposed to the automatic places. His return and the signing of Mings has just lifted the whole squad and with the likes of Axel and Lansbury available for selection next game and hopefully Chester before the end of the season, then I think we have one of if not the best squad in the league. The play-off's are a bit of a lottery and can be decided by the finest margins, but I genuinely feel that we would be the most feared team out of the four teams and I include either Leeds or Sheffield Utd in those thoughts, who would be picking themselves up from missing out on automatics. On our day we have the talent to beat any side in this division, we just need to keep the run going, the belief going, concentrate on one game at a time and not get carried away, for me I am more worried when we play the "lesser" teams than the so-called bigger clubs where we may be complacent and our recent results seem to reflect this. Blackburn up next and for me this is one of those games but hopefully the International break doesn't affect us too much and we put them to the sword. As for the run-in, for me, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds away are the two games where I think we may drop points, but I can see us making VP a fortress and winning our 4 remaining matched there, with a Norwich team already on the beach. Fingers crossed we are back where we belong next season! UTV!

Had £10 e/w on Poker Play and Potters Corner yesterday plus £20 on first race on ITV, which name escapes me. Won £650. If I had put them in a treble I would have been ecstatic! Not sure why I picked them, was just one of those days, added to by pretty much all the football scores going as I wanted, especially the Villa. Had a poor 2019 betting wise and nearly 1k down before yesterday so it was nice to finally have something going my way. I've also decided it's time to reign it in as it was affecting my moods!

Absolutely buzzing with last night's result, which was thoroughly deserved as the Forest goal came from a cross (no way the little ginge meant that one) and I think Steer only had a couple of routine saves during the course of the match. Us on the other hand had several good chances, aside from the goals. Tammy should have scored on a couple of occasions, one header wide he should have hit the target and then bringing a fine save out of Pantilimon. Kodjia and McGinn were both unlucky late on too. I was never fully comfortable watching the game, even with a 2-goal lead, but that was as much to do with the previous game at VP as opposed to how this game was going. We have been involved in lots of games with late drama and i feared the worst when the official held up 7 minutes stoppage time, but i needn't have worried. McGinn MOTM for me, goals win games and his two put us in a great position, his work rate was second to none as well, but we know that's always a given. The whole defence played well, marshalled extremely well by Mings - What a difference he has made?! I still feel that our wide players need to do more, at times they get out muscled easily, or give the ball away cheaply , though that said Green showed little glimpses that there is a player in there somewhere - if we got them fully firing then I would fancy us to get a play-off spot & promotion. As for the gaffer; I thought the team selection and the substitutions were the right choices at the right times, so great night all round - Roll on Saturday!

Absolutely delighted to see Jack named as captain, what a proud moment for him. I would give him it till the end of the season and tell him if he stays it's his for as long as he's here

Kalinic / Steer (not fussed) Elmo Elphick Mings Hause Whelan Grealish Carroll (if fit) El Ghazi Abraham Kodjia Subs: other GK, Taylor, Jedinak, Hourihane, Green, Adomah, Davis Presuming no Chester and Lansbury. Prediction 2-2

1000 pages and here's hoping to a 1000 more.... But somehow, I doubt it. The only consolation of Jack's injury is that potential buyers may be put off (by the price tag) and we get to keep him a bit longer, but I for one wouldn't begrudge him if he leaves to better things in the summer. I said at the start of the season if he gives us one more season that would be best for all parties, but it pains me to say that I feel a move now might be the best for his career. Whatever happens, I hope it doesn't become a disrupted summer of "will he stay or will he go" as we need to be fully focused right from the start of pre-season with as much of a settled squad as possible to hit the ground running. It would be a major boost to start the season with Jack and the likes of Axel, Mings, Mcginn and Abraham but I guess that's for another thread. Hopefully see him back in the team on Saturday, he is a genuine class act and our results without him emphasise this greatly.

Wow! Seriously?! I'm not Albert's biggest fan, well I am not a fan at all and I hope this is the last season we see him in a Villa shirt, but comments like that are just pure filth.

The line up is pretty much as expected, with the wide players being the only ones rotated and it's hard to say whether it makes us stronger or weaker to be honest. I remember Smith saying in one of his early interviews that he always liked to have '3.5 goals" in his starting eleven and his first few selections showed that, I feel that he is going against what he believes in with this selection. Abraham is the one goal and you have a goal between maybe Hourihane and Green, I don't see much more goal threat. I think we might well be tightening up now but he/we need to get the balance at both ends of the field.

Going to be interesting to see Smith's team selection today after Wednesday's poor performance. I feel only Kalinic, Mings and McGinn actually deserve to keep their shirts but unfortunately given our current injury situation we haven't got the (right) replacements with Tuanzebe, Chester, Grealish, Carroll and Lansbury all out. I hope to see no Adomah and Taylor for starters, but wouldn't be surprised to see both. With what's available I'd probably go; Kalinic Hutton Elphick Mings Hause Whelan Hourihane McGinn Kodjia Davis Abraham For me none of our wide players having been showing any kind of form, Tammy I think would put a shift in and still be a goal threat cutting in, Davis can hold the ball up better and allow McGinn and Hourihane to play off him, ignoring Kodge's faults he still has the ability to produce moments of class. No Barnes or Gayle is a bonus for us, I think we might edge this 2-1.

I thought he was shockingly bad first half on Wednesday night but improved slightly in the second half but that wasn't exactly a difficult achievement. I'm not going to completely rule him out as a dud though after just 2 games, however underwhelming they have been. He hasn't played that much football (it clearly shows) but least there is a bit more of a physical presence with him over Taylor, I don't think we've much to lose at this stage.

Our recent results against these leave me feeling apprehensive for Wednesday night but hopefully the team can be boosted by Friday's remarkable comeback. I would start with the same eleven that finished that game, providing Chester and Grealish are still sidelined. Would be a boost to see Jack on the bench sometime soon, seems like an eternity since he hobbled off at the Hawthorns. Hard to call this. Usually I would say I would take a point in this kind of fixture post-match, but single points aren't enough for us. We need to attack from the off, press high, play with confidence and purpose and hopefully if we can take our chances we may edge it 1-2 or 2-3. UTV

Was shocking last night, extremely bad. Not sure if his legs have totally gone or whether it was lack of match fitness; maybe a combination of both. I know Sheffield United players took their foot off the gas and sat back in the closing stages, but the difference Whelan made when he was on the pitch was like night and day compared to Mile. I think his time is up in the summer, but he's not been the worst player to grace the claret and blue shirt and obviously has decent traits but passing a football sure aint one of them