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. little8
    little8 March 2, 2024 at 7:06 pm . Reply

    Totally sat back and allowed them right back in it ffs unbelievable we should be pissing this

  2. Sidforever
    Sidforever March 2, 2024 at 7:09 pm . Reply

    We have switched off and giving away stupid fouls in dangerous areas.

  3. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 March 2, 2024 at 7:10 pm . Reply

    We are going to throw another two goal lead – I thought we’d got over this collapse from a 2-0 lead.

    And we won’t get Champions League playing like this.

    Oliver is an absolute curse when he ref’s our games,

  4. Holte
    Holte March 2, 2024 at 7:10 pm . Reply

    FFS it’s ManUtd game revisited! What is going on?

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

    We need the winner!!!

  6. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 March 2, 2024 at 7:12 pm . Reply

    We’re playing absolute crap now

    1. BFR
      BFR March 2, 2024 at 7:17 pm . Reply

      We’re not playing, Hitch.

  7. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson March 2, 2024 at 7:18 pm . Reply

    I’ve seen enough absolutely ridiculous attitudes from our team , we spend more time passing back than going forwards. We need someone that pushes the team forward. Why are we a load of lightweights against teams lower than us . Annoyed Villa fan tonight.

  8. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 March 2, 2024 at 7:20 pm . Reply

    Only one winner for this game and it’s not Villa

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 March 2, 2024 at 7:36 pm . Reply

      Bu**er, another sh1t prediction 🙂

  9. BFR
    BFR March 2, 2024 at 7:22 pm . Reply

    Is Luiz on the pitch second half??? Not rhetorical.

  10. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum March 2, 2024 at 7:26 pm . Reply

    yeressssssssss!!!!¡!!!!

  11. BFR
    BFR March 2, 2024 at 7:26 pm . Reply

    COME OOOOOOOOOOOON@!!!

  12. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 March 2, 2024 at 7:27 pm . Reply

    Great goal ……

    I was only thinking that, if I had a criticsm, it was that Emery didn’t bring Digne on earlier as Moreno was getting roasted.

  13. BFR
    BFR March 2, 2024 at 7:28 pm . Reply

    Focus now FFS!

  14. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 March 2, 2024 at 7:29 pm . Reply

    Notwithstanding Oliver is a t**t and never gives the Villa anything

  15. BFR
    BFR March 2, 2024 at 7:30 pm . Reply

    What’s with the Benito Carbone flag in the crowd?? Am I missing something?

  16. BFR
    BFR March 2, 2024 at 7:33 pm . Reply

    Konsa nearly has his pants pulled down right in front of the linesman but no free kick. 🤦

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 March 2, 2024 at 7:35 pm . Reply

      Oliver gave Luton something like 18 free kicks – Villa got just seven even though Watkins was continually pulled to the ground.

      Oliver is a disgrace as a referee.

  17. BFR
    BFR March 2, 2024 at 7:34 pm . Reply

    Phew!

  18. BFR
    BFR March 2, 2024 at 7:35 pm . Reply

    Nearly blew that.

  19. Sidforever
    Sidforever March 2, 2024 at 7:35 pm . Reply

    Wow – wish we would score 4 in the first half and save my nerves. Well done Villa! Another 3 points and if Utd lose tomorrow a good gap develops.

  20. Holte
    Holte March 2, 2024 at 7:35 pm . Reply

    Inspired substitutions! We needed change and Diaby, Digne and Iroegbunam all made telling contributions. Happy again!

    1. The Ron Saunders Stand
      The Ron Saunders Stand March 2, 2024 at 7:40 pm . Reply

      A hard 3 points but well done the lads.
      Rogers don’t look ready yet, defensively he was an absolute liability.
      Roll on next Sunday.

      1. Bum Bum
        Bum Bum March 2, 2024 at 8:26 pm . Reply

        Chesty Morgan needs to offer more upfront…

      2. BFR
        BFR March 2, 2024 at 8:45 pm . Reply

        A clean sheet is a must against Spurs. There’s a real danger they could blow us away, as they might’ve at their place. Even 10 minutes like we played second half and they will take the 3 points. We got the 9 out of 9 we demanded from the last three games. But now they will need much more. Will they have it after travelling and playing on Thursday? I fear they may not…

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