Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers Pre-Match Thread

[dave.woodhall]

It was like Saigon above Aston Park before the game with multiple helicopters.

An evil night. Destroyer of myths. Sky haven't broadcast anything like it in their post 92 sanitised offerings.

I forgot it was on Sky, having been at the match.

I bet they were shell shocked in the studio which, I think, used to be in the right hand corner between the Holte and the Doug Ellis.

No idea, was at the game.

Who knew the concrete steps of the upper Witton were so bouncy or maybe Solihul produces bouncy Noses. Eitherway, I doubt he has sat in the wrong end since.

The Mail were responsible for what happened that night as much as anything else.

Why talk about violence with such glee?

[Ads]

It's not glee, it's glib and matter of fact. On 3rd March 2003 a Birmingham City fan bounced down a number of steps. Never seen it before and not seen it since.

[SoccerHQ]

We tried to comfort a Villa fan dying of a heart attack in the park after that game.

I remember reading that in the next H&V. That article stuck in my mind for a while, he was lying on the grass by the Trinity IIRC although way I read it he'd been attacked by someone.

It was just a horrible night. Everything wrong about it. Kicking off at 8pm again after the first game was an insane move by the Police which build everything up and we were awful on the night, don't think we had a shot on target.

[SoccerHQ]

Witton Lane was like Agincourt with glass bottles before the game as well.

Yep was walking under Witton Bridge just as a whole mob of SHA fans were getting off the train singing their anti Villa songs at the top of their voices.

They got a little surprise as they kept on singing it up to the turnstiles and then the bottles start flying through the air.

[cheltenhamlion]

I must point out, I am not "bigging up" the appalling and gratuitous behaviour that night. It was terrible.

It was also very predictable. 8pm kick off?

I nipped out of work for a sandwich about 12 before heading to the game later. I have never known such an air of foreboding before.

People were staring each other out and expecting the worst whilst they had lunch. So moody was it that the now wife pleaded with me at lunchtime not to go to the game. That was just from how uncomfortable she felt getting a bite to eat 8 hours before kick off.

[dave.woodhall]

It's not glee, it's glib and matter of fact. On 3rd March 2003 a Birmingham City fan bounced down a number of steps. Never seen it before and not seen it since.

Good. Let's hope none of us ever do again.

[OzVilla]

Back to the Bolton game and it's a really important that we get the job done. This is like an old fashioned banana skin cup tie, a unexpected defeat can totally derail momentum and despite our recent upturn Bruce simply cannot afford that yet.

2-0 Villa, Kodja and Snodgrass.

[pipe]

Rocky II ¬win Villa win"

[Steve67]

Get after them early, quick goal. Then put them away with a confidence that we can take into October as Bruce picks up the Championship Manager of the Month award. I wanted him out not so long ago. This is the sort of banker that he needs to keep the players motivated for. 2-0 Villa. Kodjia and Albert.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

They've not won away or at VP for a while.....

They've won their last 2 at Villa Park, and drew the one before that.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

.

[KRS]

A win tomorrow and we'll be in 6th place if Ipswich and Bristol draw. The top 5 should all pick up wins with their fixtures.

Villa 3-0.

[Ads]

Do or die for Grayson so maybe a rabbit can be pulled there. Cannot see them sticking in the top six into spring anyway.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Confident we will win but if we dont and we play as well as before then I can deal with it. Bruce gets a pass on this one from me if he keeps up the better quality of football.

[andyh]

Not for me he doesn’t. He doesn’t get a pass against an abjectly poor team, our of their depth, at home, on the back of a very good run and with an international break coming up.

This is as much a ‘must win’ as ever.