roonst83

I believe that was at Loftus Road when Fulham were playing their home games there for a while, but point taken about our poor fortune against Fulham.

Very very tough game this. My absolute favourite away day, love the ground and the fact there's always 6,000 villa fans there. I have lived in London for the past seven years and used to live in Fulham and have spent many a saturday morning running around the Thames past the stadium so have always had a soft spot for what is a very well run club with decent fans. That said, we always seem to get spanked when I go to craven cottage so I'm hoping that will change on Saturday. Fulham, along with Wolves, were my tip before the season began to finish in the top two and they're very much on the ascent at the moment so I'm expecting a real test for us. They have a few players that are a real threat so it's important we keep them at bay and try to get Grealish involved as much as possible. We have more strength in depth with Tuanzebe and Grabben, although I expect both will remain on the bench. Jedinak had a great game against blues although he was strategically placed into the side to help combat the opposition's height and strength but I'm not sure how Fulham shape up or play so it'll be interesting to see what Bruce goes with. One thing's for sure, there'll be 6,000 villa fans behind the boys and making all the noise.

Massive massive win today and never sweeter than when it comes against our Villa-obsessed neighbours from over the road. I was nervous in the build up to this game, for a few days prior truth be told. My nerves stemmed from the fact that I knew it was imperative we kept pace with Derby (and Cardiff) and after yesterday's results for the teams around us I was even more nervous as we had the opportunity to exploit other teams' results and get up into second place. Derbies against blues always have me on edge and feeling very tense, but at the back of my mind I couldn't shake the fact that we've looked very good lately and that in blues' last game where they comfortably beat Sheff Weds their goals were all absolute gifts. I always felt that so long as we kept our head, played the game and not the occasion and played positively then we had a chance. And that's what we did. Changing a winning team after six wins on the bounce was very brave but also very sensible. I'm all for keeping players on good merit and although Thor could feel a tad unlucky to have been dropped its a team game and it was a great decision by Bruce to throw Jedinak in. We were, bar Terry's slip, largely solid at the back and we drove forward in packs, led by Grealish who is consistently demonstrating his absolute class in every game he plays for us. My most pleasing part of today's performance was how much energy we had throughout, in chasing Blues down at all opportunities as well as players such as Hogan, Grealish and Hourihane all tracking back if they lost possession. I actually thought Adomah and Hourihane weren't having great games up until they both scored a couple of great goals. But as a team we all performed very very well. Birmingham, to their credit, made it difficult for us and defended well. But we dominated possession and deserved the win. I was pleased to see the likes of Jota and Adams on the bench rather than the starting line up as they're decent players. But blues couldn't handle us today. Hogan did an excellent job up top in an isolated role and you can just see how much his confidence and happiness is growing each game. He was unlucky not to score today but hounded their back line with his constant chasing down and pressure. We forced mistakes on the opposition through our great pressure and it's great to see. The game was an excellent display, the belief in our team is very high and the crowd were absolutely amazing today. A full Villa Park in full voice in the sunshine really takes some beating. We need to push on and try and stay in second place. It will be incredibly tough but we have a great balance across our squad so we need to keep doing what we're doing. Today was an extremely great win and one which we all agree is what our manager deserves after what must have been a horrendous past week. We are together as one and will stick together in our quest to take us back to where we belong. Another very tough game next week but the confidence is high and long may that continue. Up the Villa. The pride of brum.

I remember that too. There was a nice moment when we all applauded Lampard off the pitch after reaching his goal scoring record. Class player and class of our fans to recognise that in the face of defeat.

We need to box clever with this one, keep our heads and not get sucked into the occasion. We have quality and need to stick to doing what we know we can and playing to our strengths.

I like him. he has had a tendency to go missing in games but when he's played further up the pitch I think he's shown he can link up well with Grealish. He's young and definitely still developing but I'd like to keep him involved.

Make no mistake about it, we'll have to play to our very best to win this. Local derby games discount form or league standings and Blues always raise it against us. Add to that their recent good form makes for this to be a very tough game. Can't see Bruce changing much to the team. They'll no doubt target Grealish. It's important we get him on the ball as much as possible because he can hurt teams. We haven't had Jack available or in good form to face Blues for 90 mins since he became a first teamer so I hope he performs as well as he can for us as that would give us a decent chance.

Unlike a lot of others on here I wasn't thinking we had an easy ride today at all, and it showed. Burton like to keep the ball and play it around well which they did. We were forced to counter at times which suits us quite nicely with our outlets of Grealish, Snodgrass and Adomah. I was pleased with how well we pressed Burton when they were in possession. It's the simplest tactic to getting the ball back yet is so often not carried out by teams. We scored our second at a very good time as the game was very stretched and open and Burton were providing a real threat. I thought we'd cruise from that point but we let them back in with an absolutely ridiculous own goal. I have absolutely no idea at all what Elmohamady was thinking by blasting the ball into the roof of our net. It was a moment of madness. We should've been three goals to the good before that calamity arrived as it looked a dead certain penalty when Jack was felled. I was then a nervous wreck worrying that Grealish would pick up a second yellow and miss next week's massive derby game. Was great to see Grealish score his first of the season. That's the one side to his game that's been missing. Once again he drove forward so well and offers us something no one else does in our team with his constant positivity, unpredictable play, great craft and skill in going forwards. Hogan seems to thrive on having a player like Jack, which is what a lot of us were thinking in the days when we were hoofing the ball in the air to Hogan knowing full well he needs players around him threading balls through. I think we got complacent after our third goal and got sloppy too resulting in the game running out a lot closer than it perhaps need to be and certainly a lot more nervous than it needed to be. With Cardif and Derby both wining it was important we kept up the pace with those two by winning, which we did. So I'm pleased. We have no devine right to wipe away teams who are bottom of the league and Burton gave us a tough game today. Ultimately it's the result that matters so I'm very pleased we got the three points we needed. Onwards to blues next week.

Big opportunity to keep pushing us nearer to Derby. Need to play a lot better than we did tonight in Sheffiled but we also need to stay as solid at the back as we can. Burton are a decent footballing team despite their position in the league so it'll be difficult but we need to be positive and press the opposition when they have the ball and drive forwards when we can. We need to utilise Hogan far more than we did this evening, which, considering we're at home, we should be able to do. We can't be hoofing it up to him and need to get Grealish on the ball going forward as much as possible. Need to keep the pressure on the teams above and around us if we can. I wonder if Bruce will throw big Axel in for his first start, in place of Thor maybe? Although he hasnt done badly at all and has been keeping Jedi and Whelan out of the side so Bruce may well opt to keep the same team.

Massive massive win tonight. We were second best for the first half but defended resolutely. Second half we did better in that we pressed and hurried the opposition and retained the ball better. The most frustrating thing about the first half was our awful ball retention, we simply kept hoofing it down the channels, towards Hogan or simply out of play. Felt quite lucky to be goalless at the break. Then Bruce told us to up the pace when we had the ball and press them higher up the pitch and when they have the ball and it's amazing how such a simple tactic can have a positive effect. Whilst we didn't really ever look a huge threat going forwards, save for Grealish's persistence in driving forwards at Sheff Utd and his curling shot that went inches wide., we did however take much more control over the ball in the second period. The game, as it wore on, became more stretched and we found more pockets of space, with Grealish and also down our right hand side. Terry commanded our whole back line so well and typically swept up any attack so from Sheffiled Utd before they became a threat. I didn't see a goal in us and was accepting that this would be a solid point until Snodgrass, who until then, I felt had been sluggish and not as effective as he has shown he can be, stole the game with an absolute stunner. Only one goal was every going to win this game on the balance of play and it took something special from us to take home three points. Cue absolute scenes in the away end from a packed lower tier of Villans. It was quite a sight. Johnstone was clearly our MOTM with some vital saves and a very commanding performance but Grealish once again demonstrated just how much he's come on this season through his continual positive play, his integrating play from defence to attack and how, despite getting kicked the life out of all game, kept picking himself up and carrying on. He is our most influential outlet and it's so pleasing to see him leading our attack in the way he does; finding pockets of space, twisting and turning on both feet and driving us forward at all times. He's absolutely crucial to us. Really really really pleased with that win and it showed a very determined attitude amongst our team as well as a true team spirit, which is something we've not had for years. Yes we rode our luck at times today but if we're solid at the back and can keep clean sheets or very low concession of goals then we always have a chance to score and win a game to he,p us march on. Big win this was, in difficult circumstances.

Don't rate Green at all. Severely lacks any end product. Good to have him as an option to support the squad (Snoddy and Adomah) but I've not seen anything to suggest he should be in the starting XI.

Absolutely this.

More of the same please Villa. Hope we can continue the good momentum we've accrued in the league the past few weeks. Jedinak back in for Whelan, hopefully. Otherwise, I expect us to keep things the same as against Forest.

Finally showing how good he can (and let's face it, should!) be for us. Hoping he stays clear of injuries as he's easily our most influential player in our team. He's absolutely essential to our play off hopes.

I honestly think he's been made to appear more limited because we have a manager with a very limited approach to games. We have the players to absolutely play in a way that suits Hogan and would, I feel, bring him many more goals. However, we have a manager who can't set the team up to make the most out of the qualities of his own players. I'm not meaning to bash Bruce at all by the way. I like him and he's shown he can, through his dour and often uninspiring way, get results from this time but, I do feel Hogan is often victimised as having huge failings when he's been forced to try and play in a system that has no intention of making full use of his capability. (This isn't personal, in any way, to you Omariqy in case it looks like I'm jumping on your comment in rage )

Big win. I was quietly confident about us being able to get a result today. The fact that we were on Sky worried me purely because of how much that dire Brentford performance is still in my mind but the new manager arrival for Forest and the fact they beat Arsenal didn’t worry me. We’re much better away from home, have shown against Sunderland and Boro that we can beat teams with new managers and showed against Bristol City that an epic cup win against a giant team doesn’t necessarily prevent us getting the win. I did expect us at 0-1 to keep pushing like we did against Bristol and if we grabbed the second goal I felt we’d run out comfortable (with it without scoring any more) but we’re better than Forest, Lichijh will never score two goals again in a game in his life and we’re on the back of two decent league games (cup game last week didn’t worry me for today but was disappointing to lose, all the same). We didn’t play that well going forwards but didn’t need to in the end as we controlled the pace of game in the second half and were very very solid at the back. Bruce’s tactic to win the game is keep a clean sheet. When we manage that we have showed we can win games. We need to stay in the mix for playoffs and keep pushing for an unlikely slip up from Derby and an unlikely (in my opinion) chance to grab second. Whilst I fear how we would’ve won tonight without Hogan’s very brave header (although Terry was unlucky) we defended so well it’s got to be pleasing to show that we are resolute when we need. Just a note on Hogan. I am very confident he would score goals in the Prem (for any team). He just needs the right players and system around him. Like him a lot and so pleased he got our winner. He links up excellently with our better footballing players (Grealish and Hourihane, essentially, as well as Snoddy when he delivered as well as he did today) and I so so hope his confidence is rising high, he stays clear of injuries and continues to show, what I am absolutely certain, he can do.

Hoping all momentum hasn’t been lost from the loss today to Posh. I expect the same team (assuming Hogan is fit) as against Bristol. I doubt Terry will start yet. Need to bounce back from today against a tough Forest team. After two decent wins Bruce was smarting. He absolutely needs to try and galvanise the lads after the embarrassment of today’s cup exit to get us back on track.

They won’t go down I don’t think. They have some decent players (Gallagher, Jota etc) and I think Sunderland and Burton will be the bottom two with the third from bototm up for grabs. They also seem to do well against the better teams in the league. If they start beating the teams around them then he’ll be comfortable, I feel.

Was good to hear him speak so honestly in his post match interview. He knows he hasn't give us the return of goals that we want/expect and you can sense his frustration. He comes across as a really level-headed person with his feet on the ground. Hopefully yesterday was a sign of more to come form Scott. With a run in the team and playing in a manner that suits him (i.e. not hoofing it up to and over his head) I am hopeful he can prove a lot of people wrong and score plenty for us. I really think there's a great player with Hogan.

The best performance under Bruce, without a doubt. We did everything that we haven't been doing lately; we pressed and pressed and pressed the opposition when they had the ball and when we had possession we had players making intelligent runs, making space and moving forwards. We hunted everything Bristol City did down like a pack of lions and stopped them having any momentum. Grealish was, and is, head and shoulders our best player and was at the hub of everything positive for us today. He is the perfect link between our defence and attack and showed great pace when driving forwards today. I especially loved how, even at 5-0 up we were chasing them down and pressing them. Was so so good to see. We defended well when needed and credit to Elphick and Chester for keeping any threat Bristol had at bay. Hutton and Elmo did great too and thought Jedinak worked well with Hourihane in the middle. Great to see Hogan get off the mark for us today, he's a very very good finisher and must've been lacking in confidence so to score such a great header will have helped him enormously. Hope he's underway now with more goals to come for us. Great win today and a fantastic performance.

Would love to see him start against Bristol City as I was pleased with what I saw today. Although I don't think Bruce will do it and he'll start Hogan. We'll only see RHM if we're somehow still at 0-0 with 20mins remaining or if we're 0-2 down with 30 mins remaining. He'd offer an air of unpredictability about him as currently our offensive play is too easily snuffed out. RHM could link up well with Grealish and his pace could definitely cause problems.

Bad idea. Please don't do this.

What worries me about Bruce is hearing him say how Elphick was only thrown into the starting line up for Boro as Whelan was ill, meaning Jedinak would’ve started at CB otherwise. It was the decision to start Jedinak at CB against Sheff Utd that cost us that game (in my opinion) as he was completely shambolic. I know Elphick has had his moments since joining us but we should absolutely be playing our players in their best positions. Tommy showed today that he can help us be solid at the back and, for me, is a far more suitable replacement for Terry than Mile. Bruce continues to baffle me at times.

Our only hope of winning games seems to be in keeping a clean sheet. Today we defended very well. Credit to Elphick and Chester (and Elmo and Hutton) who dug in deep and limited Boro’s forward play. We looked devoid of any idea going forwards and weren’t pressing the opposition when they had possession, which resulted in Boro having plenty of time on the ball. Our lack of a game plan, style of play or any creativity meant that when we did advance forward we constantly had nowhere to go so ended up playing the ball back to our defence. Grealish coming on changed our approach as he’s not only the most creative player in our team but also the most positive. Really pleased we got the win. RHM looked lively and we got more use out of him than we did Hogan. But the way we’re set up we struggle to get our forwards into the game. Big win and keeps us in the mix. Need to cut out the mistakes going forwards to give us the chance of taking advantage like we did today.

We seem a total shadow of how we were a few weeks ago. The confidence has been sapped out of our team, we seem to lose every midfield battle in every game and can’t get any fluidity in our play. Boro away with Pulis’s first game in charge will bring an inevitable loss I feel...and probably an uninspiring performance too. Fed up watching absolute dross from a Villa team.