Bogey Grounds.

[SoccerHQ]

Anyone got a clue why this happens in football? Is it just mental e.g. players on their way to Anfield tonight will remember good players from previous years and perform confidently.

Unbeaten in 4 years at Anfield and we usually do alright at the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea. Yet we seem beaten before we kick off at the two Manchester clubs.

[Monty]

I can only guess that if you have the same players as played well at some ground the previous year, then they might carry over those good associations psychologically. As you usually play one game a year at most grounds, it doesn't take much to build up good feelings about one or two of them.

[rogfromb6]

Shame we can't buy a result at home against Liverpool or Arsenal. Hopefully will start to put that right next week.

[Witton Warrior]

The times we outplayed the scousers and lost 3-0 in the late 70's made me mad a badger - I love the fact we are turning them over regularly there now

[SoccerHQ]

The times we outplayed the scousers and lost 3-0 in the late 70's made me mad a badger - I love the fact we are turning them over regularly there now

Happened in the mid 90s aswell under Little, think we lost 3-0 there 4 seasons running.

[silhillvilla]

Ayresome Park was a big bogey ground for us back in the day.

[Witton Warrior]

The times we outplayed the scousers and lost 3-0 in the late 70's made me mad a badger - I love the fact we are turning them over regularly there now

Happened in the mid 90s aswell under Little, think we lost 3-0 there 4 seasons running.

It was when we played well and should have beaten them that it really got me!

[TonyD]

You could take "pick" of a few bogey places.

[Gregorys Boy]

Sometimes it has to do with style of play. Like our ability to counter attack tending work against certain teams more than others.  Also if we play at quite a edgy ground like Arsenal's can get sometimes then that can work into our favour as long as we can keep the game tight for the first half and match them physically.  Arsenal like us often are better away from home (although this has changed over the last year).   For what ever reason since I have supported Villa we have noramlly done better away.   I think a lot of good footballing teams and hard working smaller clubs enjoy playing at VP.  It is mostly on big nights or the odd crunch league match where the big match home atmosphere works to our adventedge.

[JD]

Ours has been Villa Park over the past few years. Hopefully that will change this season.

[Matt Collins]

There's no reason to justify why our record at anfield and the emirates is quite so much better than at old Trafford, White Hart lane or the etihad. Nor why Man U's record at villa park is so outstanding while mourinho's is terrible

[Deano's Mullet]

The decent record at Anfield goes back further than just the Lambert years. We won at Anfield in the first Prem season (Saunders winner),  John Gregory won twice there as boss,  MON won there once and had a good draw which could have been a win had Crouch not equalized, and now two wins under Lambert.

[robbo1874]

The times we outplayed the scousers and lost 3-0 in the late 70's made me mad a badger - I love the fact we are turning them over regularly there now

Happened in the mid 90s aswell under Little, think we lost 3-0 there 4 seasons running.

the semi final at OT and fowler's hatrick springs to mind- wankers. Very pleased with the 3 pts. Hopefully it's the start of an Odessy : )

[Drummond]

The reason the likes of Man U do well at Villa Park is that they respect the place. It's a proper, traditional football ground with more history than most. Ferguson knew it and made sure his teams were well up for it.

I think others have done the same, due to our relative paucity in quality we have struggled to match them. 

We went to the Emirates and did them over and psychologically we have that edge. Anfield is one of those places, we've done a job on Gerrard each time and shut the scousers up; they really do only sing when they're winning and their (old) boy wonder is doing his thing.

Long may it  continue. We just need to work out Old Trafford on a regular basis now.

[lovejoy]

We never seemed to get a result at Highfield Road as I remember.