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’d rather Emi go off ill than injured! Maddison at Leicester is put ill too. Is something going around?
If anything playing worse in second half.
All Brentford – they should be one up!
The curse of us playing away at Brentford
Is this hoing to be the first game under Emery we don’t score?
Bloody Toney.
It was coming 1-0
1-0 Brentford.
We’re absolutely crap – old Villa and I really can’t see us recovering.
Olsen hasn’t kicked one clearance to a Villa player yet, ball constantly coming back. Only a matter of time or a miracle!
Come on lads!!! What’s happened?????
Digne kicked in the head – not deemed a high boot – a ballet dancer would have been proud of how high the boot was.
Yesssss!!!!!!
Luiz – yessssss
But we don’t really deserve it but will take it
Disallowed Brentford goal. Offside.
Still 6th!!!
Take that – we didn’t start playing until after Emery made a triple substitution.
Onto the next game
well done boys. fighting spirit shown in spite of adversity today. the old villa would never have drawn this
1-1 then. That was a poor showing up to the last 5 minutes but this team can never be counted out now. We always have it in us to score and so it proved today. Brentford will feel hard done by but that’s a great point for us today when all is said and done. Keeps the points ticking up and the unbeaten run going!
Take the form out of it guides out of it,
No team barely wins 6 games in a row in the Prem.
And Brentford’s ‘bad form’ has come from games against Wolves, Newcastle, Man United, Brighton and Leicester. If you look at the circumstances of the league they are 5 very tough games.
I wanted a win, but I will take that because we’re doing so well to get results out of bad performances.
Olsen was awful when he failed to hold onto a glanced header that Schade should have scored from. It clearly unsettled us and set the theme for most of the second half. The substitutes helped change things and we ended the game well. Pity it took so long for us to get on the front foot. A draw is a decent result although Liverpool won so it’s going to be tough to get 6th with them and Brighton particularly having games in hand.
We need better than Olsen. Is Brad Friedel still available? Jimmy Rimmer?
Is Martinez definitely ill rather than injured? Anyone heard?
Could have snatched that the very end. Oh well, can’t complain!
So do we want a Spuds or Barcodes win tomorrow or a draw?
Definitely ill Bum Bum.
It seems he wasn’t feeling well before the game but was ‘really ill’ at half time according to the comms.
A runny bottom gets better much gaster than a dislocated shoulder. Phew!
Shame Forest let in that stupid 3rd goal…
Very true 🙂
Good result think Europe is a big ask but just to be talking about it is good for the soul
Will still be very happy with 8th that would be huge progress
Have a great weekend all
Just want to mention Digne who came on for Moreno and despite my initial groan did well, and that was after a karate kick to the head which was somehow deemed not a foul by the referee who I thought was poor (for us) and it was clear the away fans were annoyed with his officiating.
The positive is we continue our unbeaten run and we still have a chance of Europe.
A good result all things taken into consideration but one thing I did notice is how cynical Brentford are.
Every time you break away or look like building something they invariably foul the player in possession allowing them to get 11 behind the ball.
With that as a backdrop and us not really firing today, not a bad result.