I don’t even know if I’ll get to watch this one, as I’m half expecting a text asking me to work tomorrow. At the minute I’m hopeful that I do get to watch it though.
So it’s Brentford away, which hasn’t proved a very good hunting ground for us.
But it doesn’t worry me.
I said recently that there isn’t a single fixture left that worries me.
Yes, we are going to lose more games this season; percentages say so, but any team we face now must realise it’s going to be in for a fight.
Whereas under Gerrard, we looked clueless and quite frankly uninterested (which is criminal, but fully indicative of how bad he was, imo), we now look up for the battle. I don’t need to repeat how McGinn and others look re-invigorated. We’ve all seen it.
So the headline sums up what I’m thinking, perfectly.
Squad news and not much has changed. The usuals, in Boubacar Kamara, Matty Cash, Philippe Coutinho and Leon Bailey are all still out.
Hence we’ll probably play an unchanged side, unless “t’ grand master” has seen something that I haven’t, tactically.
Which is always and easily possible.
Brentford also have no new concerns. Kristoffer Ajer isn’t ready to return, while Pontus Jansson and Keane Lewis-Potter are out for the rest of the season.
Brentford’s stats are interesting.
They’ve beaten us at home in the last four times we’ve played them and the last time we won was 1953. I’d guess we haven’t met them much since then though.
They haven’t won in five and have lost the last three. This would normally have me saying that we’re bound to lose then, as we’ve been the club to face when you’re on your arse, for years.
Not anymore though!
They’ve only lost two games at home this season, which makes the Gtech a bit of a fortress.
But while I would have been asking for a draw in the last few years, I now expect more.
Chris Sutton, has us down for a 2-1 win. It’s the only guess I’ve seen.
And I have to agree with him.
We’ve scored in all 18 games under Emery, which is unequalled elsewhere in the league and I expect that to continue.
I do however, have in the back of mind that we’ve been quite reliant on Ollie Watkins, who has been astounding in scoring 11 in 12 games and contributed to more goals than any player in the league in 2023 (I think. I’m sure I read that last part somewhere).
Am I wrong to ask “what if Ollie doesn’t score?”
I suppose you have to go with what’s happening and not be concerned with “what ifs?”
If we win this, it will be the first time we’ve won six on the trot since February 1990.
I’m not normally keen on stats, but they currently look so good, I can’t resist mentioning them.
And wow, does it make a great change.
2-1 it is then and a continuation of a real buzz.
And if we don’t get a result, you can’t win ’em all, can you?
UTV!
I can’t get Brentford nylons out of my head!
And where did I get “t’ grand master” from?
I suspect it was The Goodies and the Ecky Thump episode?
Emery has managed to get our fans to be optimistic and I’m beginning to look forward to games rather than dread them. Even though I should be fairly confident of a win, it’s hard to shake off the disappointment of the last 12 years or so which have turned me into a suffering pessimist. Add to that the fact we are due a defeat and Brentford are due a win!
When Gerrard left and Emery was appointed, I would have been delighted to get to 40 points so we shouldn’t be too downbeat if we don’t make Europe.
I think it will be a draw tomorrow which will be a decent result.
After tonight’s result at Arsenal we should remember that anything can happen in football. Who would have given Southampton a sniff of a point let alone have them 3-1 up with ten minutes to play.
I’m with Holte – would love to see a Villa win tomorrow but a draw would be a perfectly respectable result.
Sutton hasn’t got a Villa prediction right for weeks – hope he bucks the trend tomorrow 🙂
And I thought I was the pessimistic one! 🙂
Didn’t Sutton predict a Villa win for a change???
“Chris Sutton, has us down for a 2-1 win.”
From the headline article.
You probably missed it, is all 🙂
I’d had a couple when i read your piece!
Roll on 3pm!!! I fancy yet another win…2-0.
That was a cynical and bloody dangerous ‘tackle’ on Bednarek last night. I do not like Arsenal at all. He could have brocken his neck.
Badger
You are so right about the expectation to win.
The challenge for Villa is to obtain 9 points in the next 8 days. There is a strong chance that Spurs will get no points in their next 3 matches, allowing us a 6 point advantage over them. I have no doubt Liverpool will overtakes us. The key is if Brighton can keep going. If we do achieve maximum points in these matches, then I believe we will be in a strong position for a European adventure next year.
UTV
Liverpool are very bruised from this seasons encounters. They’re more than capable of putting a run together but they are still vulnerable. Brighton have one helluva congested fixture list, are still in the Cup and have to play us!!!
I don’t fear anyone we have left to play this season, and barely anyone is paying attention to what we’re achieving. Under the radar!!!
I’d have been ecstatic with 8th but 5th is a real possibility!
If it happens then we’d need to do some serious shopping over the summer to extend the squad!
Martinez; Young, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; McGinn, Dendoncker, Douglas Luiz, J.Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Sinisalo, Diego Carlos, Traore, Chambers, Duran, Digne, Revan, Patterson.
Sounds like a tight game.
We’re not quite on our passing game as yet.
Brentford looking dangerous on the break.
I’m not sure we are going to get anything out of this game , it’s tight on both sides.
Brentford playing a low / medium block and we’re struggling to break it down then looking to counter with long balls out wide.
Brilliant save by Martinez – Brentford looking more likely
Let’s see how Emery looks to change things up at half time.
We need an Emery masterclass at half time. Nothing to shout about first half. Brentford looking most likely to score.
We’ve looked nothing like the well-oiled machine this afternoon. Watkins had 3 touches in the first half, Ramsey has made only one run and Mings is back to hoofing up the left wing.
Brentford pushing that offside line on every break, they will get one ruled onside eventually. Emery needs to come up with plan B.
Bloody hell, Martinez not well and Olson on. Didn’t see that coming
Shit, Olsen on for Martinez 😩
Martinez ill and unable to start the second half. Olsen in goal – Brentford will smell ‘blood’ as Martinez was class in the first half.