Ratings & Reactions: Villa v Derby

[Demitri_C]

Don't care about performance clean sheet, no Darren bent goal and most importantly a win! 

Get in

[OutByEaster?]

So having played pretty well for long periods of the last three and lost them all, we played badly and won. It's not the way forward, but it'll do for today.

The conditions today weren't great for playing football, so we decided not to test them too much. I thought we defended stoutly, but far too often, that we lacked a little cohesion coming forward and again proved we can't pass the ball, but the attitude was right and we carried a threat from set pieces. Derby looked a decent side going forward and we restricted them to (lots of) half chances and we battled and battled and battled - for a team on the run we're on, that shows a fair bit of mental fortitude.

Johnstone (6) - he made a couple of decent saves, his kicking isn't too bad, but he looks very nervous - he's not one that dominates his box and the incident in the first half where he went up for a ball with Bent and ended up taking his hands away from a catching position so that he could cover his face was a worry. Peter Schmeichal would have put Bent in hospital for daring to challenge him, never mind covering his face. Anyways, the saves were decent and the clean sheet will do him good.

Hutton (7) - when the team isn't playing with a great deal of artistry or belief, what shows is players with heart and determination and courage and that stuff - he had another very good game - if it's his last season for us, then he'll be remembered well if he keeps this up.

Chester (6) - he and Baker defended well and he managed to get a goal - he's been poor this month but looked a bit more solid today, possibly because he's got rid of that haircut. Decent game and good to see him (eventually) bundle the ball home for a winner.

Baker (6) - looks more and more solid, I think he's grown up a bit as a player this season - toward the end when they were launching long balls into our box, I felt strangely calm in that Baker would win every single one.

Taylor (5) - he's careful this boy - he's not going to get caught out up the pitch, that's for sure. With Ince against him, that worked out well and he defended reasonably - but he's not he best left back at the club.

Jedinak (6) - since I declared him finished and rubbish he's been nowt but solid. Passing was quite good today too. We look better with him in the side.

Lansbury (6) - I don't think he likes Derby much. He was aggressive today, a bit more of the crunchy than the smooth and he couldn't get a passing game going - I think he's better when he's calmer. His free kicks and corners are a real asset.

Bacuna (6) - a man of the match performance until he spoiled it - he was everywhere today, worked his socks off and chased all sorts of lost causes - he looked like a player desperate to take the chance of getting in the side and staying in the side. Which, as it turns out hasn't gone his way. I was 80 yards away and I could tell clearly it was a shocking decision to award the throw in to them - but it doesn't matter, you dust yourself off and get on with it - you simply can't go at a linesman like he did. He might have to work very hard to get another chance.

Adomah (5) - worked away down the right, played in the occasional ball, but what was noticeable today was that he couldn't run away from the defender, which meant he was always struggling to get to the byline and make a difference.

Green (5) - he's been excellent as a sub, but took a long time to get into this game. I don't know if Derby have just got very quick full backs, but he was another one who couldn't get away from a defender having beaten him. He was unlucky to hit the post with the header in the second half, but I don't really remember much in the way of decent balls into the box.

Kodjia (6) - worked very hard and has earned his WWE badge for wrestling with every member of Derby's back four - it's a thankless task on your own up front when we go so defensive so early, but he got on with it and did alright.

subs

Amavi (6) - we needed his energy and the potential of pace on the break, I thought he defended pretty well too.

Gardner (6) - one big crunching tackle and some good work in almost forcing the error out of Carson - he brought more than I thought he would to the last few minutes

Bjarnason (5) - didn't really touch the ball, he held his position well, kept the shape, but didn't particularly influence the game much.

 

Overall, it was what we've earned over the last few games - some sort of karmic reward for the results we should have got against Barnsley and Ipswich and might have got against Newcastle. It's our worst performance in a while and our best result. We had the luck that had deserted us in their two penalty claims and we got much more than we deserved - which makes a refreshing change from the rest of this month.

We were crap. I'll take the points cheers.

 

 

 

[Eastie]

1 hour ago, IwishIwasalivein1982 said:

We're not going to get promoted this year 

What we can do is go for the best form possible towards the end of the season, and even if we play badly the green W on the score sheet can make all the difference, and if we go into next season with one of the strongest forms in the league then promotion can be very very possible 

This win can be the start of that and all i can ask is for bruce to keep them coming 

The voice of reason - well said mate  

[briny_ear]

1 hour ago, Dale said:

Awful performance, terrible set up but we won. I'd sack Bruce tonight regardless. 

Yes, we should probably buy 7 or 8 new players as well.

[KJT123]

I feel sorry for Derby. One of the most undeserved wins I've ever seen. But, much needed 3 points and hopefully we can get back-to-back wins on Tuesday. Credit to Gardner who halted Derby's momentum by running around like a mad man. 

[NottingVilla]

6 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said:

The conditions today weren't great for playing football, so we decided not to test them too much.

 

 

Hahahahaha - good one mate 

[OutByEaster?]

58 minutes ago, terrytini said:

But my God. McLaren has been at Derby the same time Bruce had been here and the gulf in the quality of football was absolutely immense.

They only had one player of the fourteen they used today that was in his first season at the club - that's De Sart who is on loan from Boro - we had seven in our starting eleven. Derby have been trundling along in the way they currently exist for years, a stable environment with a settled group - it's two completely different scenarios.

 

 

 

[Harry]

Not quite sure how many of the posters slagging off the team were actually at the game but what I saw was Villa grinding out a good result. That is what you have to do in this league and what I saw was much more commitment with the team working hard as a unit for once.

It wasn't pretty but we restricted Derby to one shot on target.....only one. Looking at the stats I am not entirely certain where the shot count for Derby actually came from as they had so very few chances of any sort.

Added to that there were two clear cut chances we fluffed - a great header from Baker from a corner which was parried by their keeper followed by Hutton shooting directly at the keeper then Green hit the post but had he been able to square it there was a tap in for our player. On top of that there were two occasions when had Kodja passed to Adomah and visa versa both would have had lead to real scoring chances.

Yes the substitutions were a bit bizarre but I understood what Bruce was trying to do, put more pace up front as Derby pushed up to chase the game and give a bit more defensive bite. In fact Gardener and Bacuna running at their defenders and the keeper nearly led to another goal. Bruce also had to allow for the fact we play again in three days time and we have one fit striker.

I can't really believe the comments on this thread given we won.

Edited February 26, 2017 by Harry

[Harry]

1 hour ago, Wezbid said:

For all of Derby's possession they didn't create a lot. We sat way to deep, it is only natural when the players are desperate for a win. Bruce didn't instruct them to sit so deep. 

Of course it wasn't pretty and scrappy but the players worked hard and ground out the 3 points yet it's just the same names slagging off players. It's not wrong to want a nicer performance but some almost sound bitter that we came through with a clean sheet and a victory. Sad. 

Hopefully we can use it as a stepping stone and confidence builder. 

Spot on

[VillanousOne]

1 hour ago, Paul33 said:

The only difference between that performance and most previous performances was luck. Today we got a spawny goal and escaped a nailed on penalty against us and Derby couldn't <rude word> a cow's arse with a banjo !

Still a poor performance but maybe something will change after winning a game !!!

The difference was we didn't make a horrid defensive bungle, but other than that we were much the same.

Bringing back Baker, Green, Adomah and Bacuna did work to be fair, but it didn't make the performance any better to watch.

[terrytini]

Haven't really seen the players slagged off ?

And yes OBE it certainly is two different situations.

Ondvteam plays football the other doesn't.

[StewieGriffin]

16/17: 39 points *

15/16: 17

14/15: 38

13/14: 38

12/13: 41

11/12: 38

10/11: 48

09/10: 64

This is shaping up to be our best points total since MON left... 

[NeilS]

I have not seen the game, but judging by the comments and the stats we didn't perform well. But, after the run of form we have had, I will gladly take the ugly win and three points. You need to start somewhere, and hopefully this is the start of a turnaround in our fortunes. Let's hope we build on this, and build some team confidence and understanding over the remainder of the season.

[Upper north stander]

1 hour ago, Harry said:

Not quite sure how many of the posters slagging off the team were actually at the game but what I saw was Villa grinding out a good result. That is what you have to do in this league and what I saw was much more commitment with the team working hard as a unit for once.

It wasn't pretty but we restricted Debby to one shot on target.....only one. Looking at the stats I am not entirely certain where the shot count for Derby actually came from as they had so very few chances of any sort.

Added to that there were two clear cut chances we fluffed - a great header from Baker from a corner which was parried by their keeper followed by Hutton shooting directly at the keeper then Green hit the post but had he been able to square it there was a tap in for our player. On top of that there were two occasions when had Kodja passed to Adomah and visa versa both would have had lead to real scoring chances.

Yes the substitutions were a bit bizarre but I understood what Bruce was trying to do, put more pace up front as Derby pushed up to chase the game and give a bit more defensive bite. In fact Gardener and Bacuna running at their defenders and the keeper nearly led to another goal. Bruce also had to allow for the fact we play again in three days time and we have one fit striker.

I can't really believe the comments on this thread given we won.

I'm with you Harry, hard working performance and we had the better of the chances! Let's enjoy the win! Blimey we haven't had many.....! It was squeaky bum time at the end but that's the mentality of football for you and the pressure the players and us the fans were feeling inside the ground...

UTV

[VillanousOne]

McClaren can **** off, we may have been average but Derby were utter wank.

No idea how Ince and Hughes stick around.

[Supervillan78]

3pts and a clean sheet! well happy with that. UTV

[The Fun Factory]

Quite possibly the worst 1 nil I have ever seen. Dreadful and we were lucky to get the 3 points.  A Mcleish esque type performance. As ever the only player with any quality in our side was Chester who was the MOTM by a country mile. I would be  very surprised if he stays with us next season as it is obvious that he is a top flight footballer.

Derby were the better side and they should have got a penalty. The ref was useless. Bruce will go on to randomly pick a starting XI on Tuesday as Bacuna had a brain fart and got pointlessly sent off just when he was proving himself as a good squad player. 

But- its a win which makes a pleasant change from the last two months. 

Edit- I have only seen that we had 29% possession today. At home. And we had 11 men until the 94th Minute. Jesus wept.

Edited February 25, 2017 by The Fun Factory

[Nigel]

7 minutes ago, The Fun Factory said:

Quite possibly the worst 1 nil I have ever seen. Dreadful and we were lucky to get the 3 points.  A Mcleish esque type performance. As ever the only player with any quality in our side was Chester who was the MOTM by a country mile. I would be  very surprised if he stays with us next season as it is obvious that he is a top flight footballer.

Derby were the better side and they should have got a penalty. The ref was useless. Bruce will go on to randomly pick a starting XI on Tuesday as Bacuna had a brain fart and got pointlessly sent off just when he was proving himself as a good squad player. 

But- its a win which makes a pleasant change from the last two months. 

Edit- I have only seen that we had 29% possession today. At home. And we had 11 men until the 94th Minute. Jesus wept.

Is your name ironic

[Stratvillan]

Happy with win, terrible performance. The squad is so imbalanced, we desperately need a number 9 so Kodjia can play wider, and also a Hughes type player who goes past someone in midfield. I thought that Grealish would be that player but.......

 

the defence would be good enough to get us promoted if we scored goals. If........

ah well, onto Tuesday.

[Vive_La_Villa]

It was an ugly win but it's what we needed. We were lucky but how often have we been unlucky this season? Hopefully this helps confidence.