Villa 4 – 2 Nottingham Forest; Good win, but wow, that all new defence

We mostly don’t make things easy for ourselves, do we?
The headline score seems pretty convincing, but I really didn’t think it was at the time and I fully expected us to blow it and possibly even go on to lose the game.

Don’t get me wrong, I think overall we were the better side and deserved to win it, but that defence was pretty poor, to say the least. Of course, there are excuses, in that they’ve barely featured together, yet still, the way they seemed to switch off was a bit concerning.

The result is what mattered and we got it, but I think what quite pleased me is that while I don’t think Forest were any great shakes, we did also look very good performance-wise. The midfield is what won it for us, in my opinion, with McGinn having some superb stats. He completed 37 out of 42 passes, created 2 good chances, one leading to a goal and won the vast majority of his tackles. It seems he really is a bellwether for the side and if he plays well, so do the team.
Luiz got two goals, of course and pleasingly, both Tielemans and Ramsey assisted.
Ramsey is beginning to get back to some decent form, as much as I don’t feel he’s at the top of his game yet and I get the feeling that he’s only going to get better and better as the season goes on. That could prove to be a real plus.
I should note here that while some seem to think the ref had a good game, I feel he had a massive miss when Moreno had his arm being held/pulled in the box as he passed to Tielemans who hit the post. It was very plainly seen and was a blatant penalty in my eyes.

How good was Bailey? He is really looking the part. He gave the Forest right back a torrid time and got his own goal to cap off a very good display. Again, I’ll hold my hands up and admit I was totally wrong about him. He’s a great player, who’s now added to his overall efforts in helping out.
That said, Forest’s left side didn’t seem very convincing at all and this helped Matty Cash look good too.

That defence though, was giving me kittens and I’m concerned about how they’ll perform against better sides. It is what it is though and we took the win that keeps the wagon rolling.
It is beginning to look like I might have been wrong about the wheels having fallen off.
I do hope so.

UTV!

72 Comments

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  1. Holte
    Holte February 25, 2024 at 7:00 pm . Reply

    Very sad news about Chris Nicholl. That goal against Everton in the League Cup final will go down as one of the great final goals. RIP.

  2. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson February 25, 2024 at 7:25 pm . Reply

    77 Hitch and what a player he was, played for Northern Ireland as well rest in peace Chris condolences to his familyā€™s never to be forgotten .

    1. The Ron Saunders Stand
      The Ron Saunders Stand February 25, 2024 at 11:09 pm . Reply

      Any one remember the game where he scored all 4 goals?
      2 for Own and 2 for Villa.
      RIP Chris.

      1. Badger123
        Badger123 February 25, 2024 at 11:44 pm . Reply

        Tut tut!
        Shows how much you read RSS.
        See Hitch’s 6.03pm post above.

        1. The Ron Saunders Stand
          The Ron Saunders Stand February 26, 2024 at 11:21 am . Reply

          šŸ¤¦ā€ā™‚ļø Whoops
          Well remembered Hitch.

          1. Hitchens60
            Hitchens60 February 26, 2024 at 12:53 pm . Reply

            Cheers RSS – strange thing is I can clearly remember that stat and driving home but canā€™t remember a single thing about the game itself – even though I was there.

            I can vividly remember the first game I attended at VP in 1960 though!

            Very strange thing memory.

            1. Bum Bum
              Bum Bum February 26, 2024 at 8:15 pm . Reply

              I met Tony Blair once and refused to shake his hand.
              I can’t remeber it at all.

              1. The Ron Saunders Stand
                The Ron Saunders Stand February 26, 2024 at 9:15 pm .

                I once met Colonel Sanders, he was with Maurice Chevalier.
                He let me lick his fingers and oh yes i remember it well.

  3. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum February 26, 2024 at 10:54 pm . Reply

    You been at the whiskey again??? šŸ¤£šŸ¤£šŸ¤£

  4. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 February 28, 2024 at 1:25 pm . Reply

    Recent Twitter post which thanks Fulhamā€™s recent efforts in support of Villa – preventing us getting out of the Championship under Doctor Tony (every cloud etc,), getting Gerrard sacked, allowing us 3 points at Craven Cottage and then beating ManU.

    Never saw it like that – made me laugh.

  5. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 February 28, 2024 at 1:51 pm . Reply

    According to Brum Live, Konsa is back in training.

    It would be brilliant to have both Konsa and Torres fit for the upcoming games in the first couple of weeks of March.

    1. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum February 29, 2024 at 8:26 am . Reply

      Hell yeah! Even if we have to rest them against Luton…

  6. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum March 1, 2024 at 8:21 am . Reply

    LUTON TOMORROW NIGHT, GUYS!!!!!!!!!

    1. BFR
      BFR March 1, 2024 at 10:41 am . Reply

      I really want a clean sheet for this one, Bum Bum. Luton are free scoring and look excellent when they attack. I would suggest attack would be the best form of defence for Villa and put them away before half time, ala Sheffield. There should be plenty of goals, I just hope none for Luton!

      This is the third match of the mini run vs weaker teams before Spurs at VP and a trip abroad in between. 3 points are so so important, critical. No pressure, lads!

      1. little8
        little8 March 2, 2024 at 5:52 pm . Reply

        Should be up here need to take our chances

      2. little8
        little8 March 2, 2024 at 5:59 pm . Reply

        Yeeaaaassss Woo hooooo

      3. BFR
        BFR March 2, 2024 at 7:19 pm . Reply

        So much for the f****** clean sheet. Sh** the bed, more like.

    2. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum March 2, 2024 at 7:10 pm . Reply

      Equaliser? Come on lads!!!! Sort it out!!!!

  7. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson March 1, 2024 at 4:14 pm . Reply

    Can we get Badger not to predict the score , it worries me that . looking forwards to it specially with the back line being back hopefully. BFR now the run in , letā€™s get them points and then deal with dirty Spurs at Villa park .

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 March 1, 2024 at 6:19 pm . Reply

      Bill, good news that Konsa and Torres are in the match day squad – I wonder if Emery will play them from the start?

      May hope to be well ahead in the game so can give them 20 minutes or so later on.

      Heā€™ll have to weigh up the risk and reward with Ajax away on Thursday and then Spuds at home.

      1. Bum Bum
        Bum Bum March 1, 2024 at 7:35 pm . Reply

        Rest them! We should have enough to do Luton…

  8. OLL again
    OLL again March 1, 2024 at 8:31 pm . Reply

    I expect to see something different from Luton, Rob Edwards is a good manager but their defensive tactics have been farcical in the last four games. Are they going to invite Ollie to have a free sprint at goal, like Harland – surely not again. I won’t be surprised if Luton sit back and let us attack.

  9. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson March 2, 2024 at 11:13 am . Reply

    Right I want 6 fit men to start looking for Badger think heā€™s gone A.W.O. l. Oops thought I was still in the army .
    Now this game Iā€™m concerned with we need points, our defence been guilty of leaks lately but Iā€™m hopeful itā€™s back together today. Donā€™t forget itā€™s on Sky tonight so stream should be ok .

    1. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum March 2, 2024 at 12:51 pm . Reply

      Badger’s predictions are either spot on or horrifically wrong! šŸ™‚

      Four and a half hours until KO!!!!

  10. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson March 2, 2024 at 3:27 pm . Reply

    Itā€™s me and you today BumBum, Iā€™m watching Spurs at the minute hopefully theyā€™ll lose , whereā€™s my mate Badger ?

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 March 2, 2024 at 4:36 pm . Reply

      Bill – I suspect heā€™s working. Heā€™s got a new major contract in the Liverpool area which is taking his time at the mo.

      Sure heā€™ll surface at some point.

      Konsa back in for Chambers, Torres on the bench and Palace winning.

      Tough game today – Luton are no mugs at home and I fully expect them to score. We really need to be on our game.

      We donā€™t have a great record at Kenileorth Road and Oliver is the ref! Hope we can win but Iā€™d take a draw.

  11. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson March 2, 2024 at 4:28 pm . Reply

    Crystal Palace winning 1-0 keep it up palace.

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 March 2, 2024 at 4:40 pm . Reply

      Spuds have equalised!

  12. Holte
    Holte March 2, 2024 at 5:20 pm . Reply

    Spurs win adds pressure on. The first goal as always will be crucial for us. Luton I expect to go for the jugular early on to get their stadium rocking.
    Will Konsa be ready for the challenge after a few weeks out!

  13. little8
    little8 March 2, 2024 at 5:35 pm . Reply

    Fuckin disgrace fans shouting during big Chris Nichols minute’s silence how disrespectful

  14. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson March 2, 2024 at 5:42 pm . Reply

    Well that ref is a Luton fan , you can see it in his decisions . This is going to be a hard game .

  15. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson March 2, 2024 at 5:46 pm . Reply

    Shit just seen whoā€™s the bloody referee Michael fuckin Oliver our worst referee nightmare.

  16. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum March 2, 2024 at 6:13 pm . Reply

    We are Aston Villa! We are Sexy!!!!!

  17. little8
    little8 March 2, 2024 at 6:15 pm . Reply

    2-0 Wooooo playing great commme onnn

  18. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum March 2, 2024 at 6:52 pm . Reply

    Luton are a bit rough but we seem to be employing a few dark arts…Par for the course…

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