Lerner's Driver

Yes, but it's hardly surprising is it. We are away at United and using the same players we did when we're last beaten. Still in it of course. Let's not forget that.

Standard Villa whingeing it seems.

They have to play us yet

Great result. Irritatingly passive second half.

I really want to be wrong, but 1-2.

The Football News Show, Unai Emery’s Villa Revival: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0fdqdcz

There are a lot of similarities between us and Saudi Arabia atm, but I think it is only realistic to say they are ahead of us in their transformation. They've had their dip as well, so their wave is climbing again. As per some of the other comments, I agree that we can win, just not sure we will. Obviously it would be great to do them, but I won't be gutted if we don't, happy to see the gradual improvements and trust the process.

Yesterday was almost the perfect match day experience for me. I bought a ticket on a whim on Thursday after not having been since 2016 and it was one of the last three available! Surely a good sign, further endorsed when I discovered I was sitting a few rows back exactly on the half way line. After recent results, there was a bit of a party feel around the ground before kickoff, everyone was really relaxed and enjoying the sunshine What followed was a first half where the team lacked urgency and precision, in keeping with the beach weather, so the party vibe did subside somewhat. We clearly weren't on it and there was a niggling sense that Forest might nick a goal to punish our profligacy, but we needn't have worried. There is so much to like about this new Villa team, not least how well we adapt to challenges, the improvement in most players, our real threat when we attack and the fact we are now much more comfortable on the ball. All such big improvements and a delight to behold, so why was it only 'almost perfect'? Well, Unai is absolutely right, we do have to improve. The results he is getting out of these players are nothing short of extraordinary and the players themselves deserve great credit for rising to the challenges in front of them, but we are riding our luck a little and we aren't yet fulfilling our potential. The feeling among many before the game was that we should be smashing Forest and in terms of what they showed yesterday, we absolutely should be. They were dire. But we aren't there, yet. Everyone wants that statement performance where we grind the opponent into the ground and it will come, but we haven't quite fully clicked, yet. Some of our play is sparkling at times, the last few minutes yesterday were lovely (what we had been hoping for from the start), but we are going to have to be patient before we see that. And when I say 'we' have to be patient, I do mean us as fans because the players are showing such admirable calm and poise in possession. That for me is the biggest step forward we have taken under Unai. Am I being picky? Yes I am, but so is Unai. He wants more and it IS going to come, you can just tell. Whether it is this season or next with the new additions, it doesn't really matter too much because we are on our way, finally. So, not quite perfect, not smashing teams, but it's coming. We are back.

There's a few stories I could tell. Randy by name...

I'm going on Saturday for the first time since 2016! Can't wait...

Yes!

Ok, let's do it

Sutton predicted 2-2 before the game - looks a decent bet.

Emery out. This is dire. Why can't we just have some of that Stevie G pragmatism?

Hard to call, but I think we can win. If we score first we will give ourselves a good chance.

And no Olsen!

From the BBC... Maybe the best 90 minutes we played here since I arrived' FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Bournemouth Aston Villa boss Unai Emery to BBC Match of the Day: "After the matches we lost to Arsenal and Leicester, the reaction has been fantastic. Today is maybe the best 90 minutes we played here since I arrived. We conceded some chances to them, but I think it is normal because they are in a good moment. "I'm happy today and I want to share it with the players and supporters." On Jacob Ramsey: "He is young; he is here and involved at Aston Villa. He has the potential to learn some things and understand tactically what we want. Today he played the best match since I'm here."

Not today. My MotM.

Agreed. Clear pen. Delighted we still made them pay.

A very very good performance. We are going places under this manager. That was another step forward. Sure, "it's only Bournemouth", but they just beat Liverpool and we are clearly on a roll. The players believe in the manager, so are responding, unlike the last word removed. Lots of very good performances today. Seeeeexxxxxx fluids, much like the football itself, which is actually extraordinary if you consider that he took over mid season when we were utter shit.

Is it going to be one of those games?

Normally I try and say to myself, stay patient, give the bloke a chance, every player takes a different amount of time to find their feet, but he doesn't look like he has the tools to make it. Too weak for this league.

A slightly disappointing result, but further evidence of the playing style taking shape and another decent point. Without doubt, the biggest advance and thing of utmost wonder, is our control of the football, it is sexy and in complete contrast to what we have had to put up with for much of my adult life. We are already a very good away team indeed and once we are fully formed, we are going to be James Brownesque. Thank you Unai and well done boys!

Agree with all of this. I just think both things can be true at the same time... We are learning a new playing style (mid-season) AND it does quite often feel terrifyingly risky because we aren't consistently good at executing it yet. It's probably going to be like this for the rest of the season as well, so best strap in! If you think about it, given the dramatic shift from keep it tight nothingness, to this dynamic mix of ideas, it's pretty impressive that we are winning as much as we are. It's incredibly difficult being patient as a football fan, but it is going to be worth it, you can just tell, mostly because the benefits are already outweighing the growing pains.

Who hypes Palace?