While I still remain confident about the Villa, I think the logical stance is that it’s going to be a big ask that we’re going to beat Leeds and Norwich while Albion lose to Derby too.
Which means overtaking the Baggies looks doubtful, although still not impossible.
Derby might well beat Swansea away and Albion at home, which means they can overtake us, if we lose our remaining two games.
Why did I think we were guaranteed 5th place as we stand? So much for that “O” level maths.
For clarity, if you don’t know already, third place plays sixth place and fourth place plays fifth place in the play-offs.
My mind is blown, given the myriad of options, but it looks to me like we face the Albion and Leeds face Derby.
I’d take us to do the Albion over two legs, although it would by no means be easy.
Leeds-Derby is also a tough call, but I’d plump for Leeds, which means we’d face them in the final.
Which all in all makes tomorrow a game that we should try to win.
While losing to them tomorrow wouldn’t be the end of the world, it would give them a psychological edge and we don’t want that.
Beating them on their own turf means we’d have the edge, obviously.
Squad news and it’s looking pretty good for us.
Gianji Alioski, who did well against us in the last meeting, is out for the season with a torn meniscus.
Kemar Roofe, Leeds’ top scorer, is also out with a hip problem.
Tammy and Hause are still out, but we know we have decent back up and Tuanzebe is available.
Dean Smith has hinted that he won’t play a weakened side and I fully expect Grealish and McGinn to start and I don’t see more than the odd change happening.
So while I remain fully confident, unless we’re going to win fifteen games on the trot, the winning streak continues to concern me.
I think I’d prefer us to drop that and instead maintain our unbeaten run.
Where maybe a draw would keep me happy.
Except I see a few goals in an open game, meaning a draw is unlikely.
I’m drawing a deep breath, but I’m going for yet another win.
2-1 to us.
UTV!
Cheating bastards
Leeds score after we kick the ball out for an injury.
El Ghazi off for elbowing.
What a farce!
Double cheating bastards – now El Ghazi sent off
Villa walk through and equalise through Adomah.
Rightly so too.
1-1
I was about to call Leeds a bunch of $£%*s and then they let us score.
No El Ghazi in the semis though
Kodjia goes off injured and Jedinak is on to replace him!
I have never ever seen that before
1-1
Bamford is a cheating bastard! El Ghazi card will be overturned. F***ing cheat.
Yep, just saw that replay.
It didn’t look like he touched him.
Fair play to Bielsa but this game is only going to get worse
McGinn booked for a poor tackle.
God we need to get him off now.
Cheats – Bamford should be sent off. Nowhere near him – will get overturned. Now we have to take McGinn off as well.
Error by DS not taking McGinn off. He definitely cant play next week as another booking means play off suspension!
Has anyone seen that before , I’ve never, all over us now Mings brilliant what a game.
Probably a fair result in the end as long as El Ghazi’s red card is overturned. What has it cost us though – McGinn can’t be risked against Norwich and Kodjia / Steer injured.
We should probably rest a few players against Norwich as we are certain of 5th and can’t improve on it.
After that one I’d definitely rest just about everyone!
Wasn’t Mings great though? He spoke well afterwards too and he looked like he really enjoyed the battle. If we go up I think we should make Bournemouth an offer they can’t refuse.
All the defence played well but Mings was outstanding and a word for Taylor who put in another composed performance.
I presume we will be charged with failing to control our players – again!
The dire refereeing was the root cause of the problem….he should be charged and demoted IMO!….as for the lineman, the less said the better!
So proud that we can continue to show our class in the face of such adversity! So, so brave…..I’m proud that you’re my club!
UTV
Yes fantastic result deffo thought leeds would get a late winner there.
So proud of our VILLA, having a beer on that me thinks.
Klich was ‘clearly’ offside for the goal anyway. A competent linesman and the melee that ensued would not have happened but for his failure to call the offside!
Some thoughts now I’ve calmed down a bit –
In hindsight perhaps Smith was right to field a strong side. We might still meet Leeds in the final and an easy win might have made them more confident.
It’s a pity that Bamford got a yellow as he might have gotten a retrospective red otherwise for being a cheating bastard. I hope the refereeing is better in the Prem.
Besides playing some stylish football Smith has instilled in the team two great attributes – fight and resilience.
Full marks to Bielsa for ordering his team to let us score but I’d bet that wouldn’t happen in the final.
I’m hoping that Smith plays the second eleven against Norwich, we need everyone fit.
Finally I think that we can do it and, if we don’t, I’ll still be proud of my team because, whatever happens, they won’t go down without a fight.