Popular Post John Posted December 27, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 27, 2019 This game wasn’t a Christmas Cracker, but it’s the result that is the be all and end all, given our present precarious situation and we were the club that came away with the oh so precious points. This was our first belated taste of seasonal cheer and didn’t it go down well? We have taken six valuable points from the Canaries this season and now have our first double of the season in the bag as well. Yesterday’s win brought us within a point of West Ham and two behind both Brighton and Bournemouth. Anything less than a win, would have seen an uncomfortable gap start to develop between the bottom three and those clubs. Yesterday’s victory gives us a win and a defeat, from the first two of the critical three-games that will bring 2019 to a conclusion. We travel to a reinvigorated Watford tomorrow and need a minimum of a point and preferably all three, to maintain the healthy gap between the bottom two clubs and ourselves. One goal always seemed likely to win this one, if in fact there was even to be one. At half time, the game looked as if it might just as easily drift into a goalless draw, which would not have been enough for either club. The importance of this game between two clubs that were relegated together and then promoted together three years later, was clear for all to see yesterday. Neither side could afford to lose this 6-pointer and both teams were clearly determined to emerge the victors or at the very least with a share of the points. There wasn’t a lot to choose between the two teams yesterday. Norwich might claim to have had the better of it, they certainly had some clear opportunities, but it was to be Villa that found a lethal finish to secure the points. It was tough on the visitors, but as we have already found out this season, a good performance does not always result in a win or even a draw. We battled well to hold our lead, although we did tend to drop increasingly deep towards the end. This clean sheet has hopefully played a big part in bringing our recent poor run of results to an end, before it could do us irreparable damage. We are now half-way through this season, and we have 18 points from our 19 games. 36 points would be unlikely to keep us up in my opinion and a point a game might not prove quite enough this season, the way the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United are gifting points to teams that are around us. We may therefore need to find as many as 22 points from our remaining 19 matches to ensure our safety. Points from the teams that are around us is what we need, six from Watford to add to the six from Norwich would be nice. We are going to need some new blood next month, the odd unexpected win or two and perhaps VAR giving us something, rather than costing us for a change! My player ratings from a game that brought us three points that could well prove to be crucial at the end of this season, are: Tom Heaton – 8 – MOTM – Gathered a low shot from the edge of the box from Cantwell after 8 minutes. He was relieved when a 17th minute Byram header struck the bar, after the defender had evaded his marker Elmo. Did so very well to keep out a 51st minute Trybull header at his left-hand post, after he had evaded his marker Trezeguet. Made a crucial reaction save on 86 minutes to keep out a shot from Hernandez at his left-hand post. Those two exceptional second half saves, were of the quality that had kept Burnley up before he moved from them to us. Ahmed Elmohamady – 6 – Injected some experience and a cool head into a defence, that had looked so shaky last time out. He also hits a decent cross or two. Ezri Konsa - 7 – He looked solid yesterday and alongside Kortney did well as a central pairing, when under a fair bit of pressure from the visitors. Did well to claim the ball from Pukki after the striker had ran into the box on 20 minutes. Headed a 75th minute corner wide of the far post. Kortney Hause – 7 – Wolves loss has been our gain. Did very well to get a touch on the ball, just as Pukki was shaping to hit it, after the striker had run inside the box and onto a ball from Buendia after 16 minutes. Both Konsa and himself, were running alongside Pukki and Heaton was moving towards the striker to close him down, before Kortney had made that crucial intervention. Matt Targett – 5 – This clean sheet can help his confidence return and that of the squad in general. Anwar El Ghazi – 4 – Looked to be on the verge of substitution twice in the first half as he sat despairingly on the turf, apparently putting the extent of his pain threshold to the test. He can drift out of games for periods, but also has occasional moments when he looks a threat and I guess that is what currently keeps him in the starting line-up more often, than not. Made two or three hasty clearances, that unnecessarily handed back possession in the second half. The ball went through his legs, as he attempted to turn a Trezeguet header from a 37th minute Elmo cross, inside the far post with his left foot. Marvelous Nakamba – 4 – Substituted on 56 minutes, having not for the first time of late not quite lived up to his first name. Douglas Luiz – 7 – Made an incredible clearance to deny Tetty a certain goal on 51 minutes, when he somehow stretched to divert his shot over the bar, from no more than a couple of feet from the goal line. Had earlier hit a low shot from the edge of the box, wide of the right post on 6 minutes and hit a 14th minute shot over, after a shot from Konsa had been deflected into his path off Wesley. Jack Grealish – 8 – Enjoyed the extra involvement that playing in the number 10 role gave him yesterday and stepped up to lead by example, with Tyrone and John unavailable to share that responsibility. Hit a 54th minute shot from the edge of the box that Krul saved to his right and claimed an assist for the winner. Trezeguet – 4 – He has a determination about him, but he failed to make any really significant positive impression upon this game. Wesley – 5 – Contributed to this result, with some decent work holding up the ball and some hard-running yesterday. At times, he can give the appearance of a decent striker outside of the box, but any confidence he might once have had inside it, is long gone despite encouragement from supporters, his goal drought continues and shows no prospect of ending in a constant flood of goals. Substitutes: Conor Hourihane – 7 - Replaced Naka after 56 minutes and hit our winner on 64 minutes. Conor played a one-two with Jack, who jinked into the box before returning the ball to Conor who hit a sweet shot past Krul and into the right-hand corner of the net. He just must start for me, if necessary, instead of one of our wide boys perhaps. Jota - Came on for Trezeguet on 84 minutes and was not on long enough to gather a rating. Henri Lansbury – Replaced El Ghazi after 92 minutes. Not on long enough to attract any rating. Stay up Villa and Happy New Year to all Villa Talkers! John Lewis 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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