wedge Posted December 27, 2018 Share Posted December 27, 2018 All the teams around us have very winnable games this weekend so anything less than three points here will be a massive disappointment. Our 3-0 win at Deepdale last season in the Bruce era was one of the most complete away league performances I've seen from a Villa side in recent memory so a similar display on Saturday will be more than appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted December 27, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted December 27, 2018 Dont really care about the other teams tbh. Whats more important is to get our own winning run going now we have some easier games coming up. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted December 27, 2018 Share Posted December 27, 2018 We have won 51 and have drawn 17 of the 103 league games between these two founder members of the Football League. Preston were the first league and cup double winners in 1888/89. We were the second club to achieve that feat in 1896/97. We dropped two valuable points to then bottom of the table Preston earlier this season when they were aided and abetted by a dubious penalty decision that the referee felt also merited bringing us down to ten men by giving Chester his marching orders. Preston are now sitting more comfortably in the league. They are currently in 17th place, 7 points clear of the relegation zone and only 8 points behind us. Another away win would be a very nice way to close this year and that might just bring us within a point of the play off places as we approach the January transfer window. Another clean sheet should take us to 39 points from 25 games. A 2-0 victory would be most welcome. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BOF Posted December 27, 2018 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted December 27, 2018 After coming through our nightmare-ish run in December with flying colours, we go into the new year with a far more forgiving schedule on the horizon. We've now got the 'easiest' run in the league over the next 6 games based solely on league position. Our opponents AVERAGE 17.67 in the league with Leeds, West Brom & Norwich at the other end of the table hopefully about to drop some points. We need to flat track bully from here onwards if we're to even think of automatic promotion. 14 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Robtaylor200 Posted December 27, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted December 27, 2018 This fixture always brings back memories. It was the first away fixture I ever went to around 50 years ago My dad took me. The old chap is 90 now, with early dementia. Poor old bugger cant remember how to use the remote for the TV But he can remember the whole team that played that day 35 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted December 27, 2018 Share Posted December 27, 2018 Apparently they have another injury crisis. Something can’t be right with the way they train with the injuries they always have. This should be a comfortable win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troglodyte Posted December 28, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted December 28, 2018 10 hours ago, BOF said: After coming through our nightmare-ish run in December with flying colours, we go into the new year with a far more forgiving schedule on the horizon. We've now got the 'easiest' run in the league over the next 6 games based solely on league position. Our opponents AVERAGE 17.67 in the league with Leeds, West Brom & Norwich at the other end of the table hopefully about to drop some points. We need to flat track bully from here onwards if we're to even think of automatic promotion. Your spreadsheet makes me moist. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villalad21 Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 We always seem to play great away from home. I'm more confident at away games, we'll win this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nidrosian Posted December 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted December 28, 2018 (edited) Let's put this into perspective, Smith's games in green, Bruce's in Red. Better performances, more points, more goals against much harder opposition. If we play anything like our best We should flatten all of the next 6 teams we play even taking into account our shit luck recently and teams only seeming to turn up against us... only real challenge should be QPR but iirc a loss was a pretty unfair result earlier in the season, so we should do them at home. They have a really leaky defence with the only negative goal difference in the top half (battered by Albion 7-1 not helping), so feel we can slot 2 or 3 past them at home. Concerning Preston. They are struggling to take points against teams around them recently, losing to hull and shef wednesday recently, sure they beat forest but got battered by the scum 3-0. We are playing great away from home atm and would be surprised if we don't beat them by 2 or 3 goals. Edited December 28, 2018 by Nidrosian 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted December 28, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted December 28, 2018 9 hours ago, Nidrosian said: Let's put this into perspective, Smith's games in green, Bruce's in Red. Better performances, more points, more goals against much harder opposition. If we play anything like our best We should flatten all of the next 6 teams we play even taking into account our shit luck recently and teams only seeming to turn up against us... only real challenge should be QPR but iirc a loss was a pretty unfair result earlier in the season, so we should do them at home. They have a really leaky defence with the only negative goal difference in the top half (battered by Albion 7-1 not helping), so feel we can slot 2 or 3 past them at home. Concerning Preston. They are struggling to take points against teams around them recently, losing to hull and shef wednesday recently, sure they beat forest but got battered by the scum 3-0. We are playing great away from home atm and would be surprised if we don't beat them by 2 or 3 goals. Makes it even starker when you realise what happened to us when Bruce played the only team in the top 10! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted December 28, 2018 Moderator Share Posted December 28, 2018 Simply a must win game, hopefully we can rediscover a little of the swagger we were starting to show under Smith a couple of weeks ago. Mom going 3-0 Villa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villatillidie1980 Posted December 28, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted December 28, 2018 Any likely returnees to the squad? Taylor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilko154 Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 We look to have Grealish, Tuanzebe, Taylor & Lansbury missing. Preston have Ben Davies (centre back), Callum Robinson (striker), Brandon Barker (winger), Sean Maguire (striker), Josh Harrop (striker) & Billy Bodin (striker) all out injured. We have to take advantage of this and pick up 3 points here. It's a very short space of time between games but we have fresh players in the squad we can bring in with Bjarnasson, Kodjia, Adomah. All could make a vital difference. I would also at least give O'Hare a chance off the bench as Grealish doesn't look to be back anytime soon and we are missing the creativity through the middle of the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted December 28, 2018 Moderator Share Posted December 28, 2018 1 hour ago, TrentVilla said: Mom going 3-0 Villa. Good on her! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedClaretAndBlue Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 Stick McGinn on Daniel Johnson, dont let him dictate the midfield. Should have enough; Preston 1-2 Villa Abraham, Chester 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nidrosian Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 2 hours ago, Nigel said: Makes it even starker when you realise what happened to us when Bruce played the only team in the top 10! Annoying really considering Utd have lost 4 and won 2 against the top six. And W-4 D-2 L-6 vs top half teams. All of their success has come against bottom half teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alreadyexists Posted December 28, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted December 28, 2018 So are we still without Grealish, Tuanzebe? That could be problematic. I would go as we started against Swansea and see how we get on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GENTLEMAN Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 On 27/12/2018 at 13:54, BOF said: After coming through our nightmare-ish run in December with flying colours, we go into the new year with a far more forgiving schedule on the horizon. We've now got the 'easiest' run in the league over the next 6 games based solely on league position. Our opponents AVERAGE 17.67 in the league with Leeds, West Brom & Norwich at the other end of the table hopefully about to drop some points. We need to flat track bully from here onwards if we're to even think of automatic promotion. Wow! The next 6 for Norwich will test their mettle as automatic promotion candidates. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVTuco Posted December 28, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted December 28, 2018 7 hours ago, wilko154 said: We look to have Grealish, Tuanzebe, Taylor & Lansbury missing. Preston have Ben Davies (centre back), Callum Robinson (striker), Brandon Barker (winger), Sean Maguire (striker), Josh Harrop (striker) & Billy Bodin (striker) all out injured. We have to take advantage of this and pick up 3 points here. It's a very short space of time between games but we have fresh players in the squad we can bring in with Bjarnasson, Kodjia, Adomah. All could make a vital difference. I would also at least give O'Hare a chance off the bench as Grealish doesn't look to be back anytime soon and we are missing the creativity through the middle of the pitch. Hopefully we're more interested than we were on Wednesday. We should win, but who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomaszk Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 I've spoke to my mate who's had a season ticket for three years at Preston. What he said has worried me. They have 7 or 8 key injuries and he said 100% we'll win. His mate who he goes with has put £200 on Villa at 7/5 which he says is bargain of the century. Ever the cynic me. This is a must win for Deano and the boys. Let's scare people. I think Albert will start and McGinn/Tammy will be brought off if we're three goals up on 60 mins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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