Aston Villa v Reading Post-Match Thread

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Delighted with the win.

Its pretty ironic that the game in which we play our poorest out of the past 5, is the second one we win. We were miles off how we played at Sunderland, against Man United, the first half at City and against Arsenal.

After some very nice play in the first ten minutes, the game bogged down into what a lot have described as, and I would agree, a very scrappy affair.

Reading defend really well. They tuck their full backs in, squeeze the space between midfield and their back four and make it difficult.

That said, we created quite a bit. Baker and Clarke went very close from a couple of corners and I thought Weiman should have buried his chance.

Finally a goal from a corner! Excellent delivery from Westwood.

Beneteke was once again excellent.

We desperately need an inside forward and I think Ireland has to start. He’s not the answer, but he does show for the ball and offers a bit of something extra. We say it every week, but the spine needs to be strengthened, with a centre half and a huge central midfielder.

I think perhaps the reason for the poor display is that for the first time in a long time, we were favourites to win a game and that is a new pressure for some of our youngsters.

[QBVILLA]

The other thing about it being 'only Reading' is that this is the sort of team many of us thought we wouldn't have the bottle to beat in a relegation scrap. It's early days but I think we are seeing that this side will scrap for points when they need to.

I think we will need to scrap for every single point. We are 17th and I think opposition fans will look at us and think "It's only Villa"

[NeilH]

The other thing about it being 'only Reading' is that this is the sort of team many of us thought we wouldn't have the bottle to beat in a relegation scrap. It's early days but I think we are seeing that this side will scrap for points when they need to.

I certainly don’t buy into this ‘only Reading’ stuff. Many of the teams that go down do so as they can’t scrap for points among the teams in a similar position. Yes the game was awful, but we won and got 3 vital points. Do that again against similar opposition and we can believe that we can scrape our way out of this.

[stubbsyandy]

We have played better and got nothing, and we do need the points.So I am happy, and these points mean a bit more as they are taken from one of our rivals for staying up (for now)

[Ads]

The other thing about it being 'only Reading' is that this is the sort of team many of us thought we wouldn't have the bottle to beat in a relegation scrap. It's early days but I think we are seeing that this side will scrap for points when they need to.

I think we will need to scrap for every single point. We are 17th and I think opposition fans will look at us and think "It's only Villa"

One point off Newcastle.

There are a lot of poor sides in this league.

[QBVILLA]

The other thing about it being 'only Reading' is that this is the sort of team many of us thought we wouldn't have the bottle to beat in a relegation scrap. It's early days but I think we are seeing that this side will scrap for points when they need to.

I think we will need to scrap for every single point. We are 17th and I think opposition fans will look at us and think "It's only Villa"

One point off Newcastle.

There are a lot of poor sides in this league.

Yep, we have to be the best of the rest and not look at anyone as being inferior.

[Billy Walker]

I notice Reading have lost 1-0 away to West Brom and Liverpool this season, too, and they beat Everton at home 2-1 a couple of week's ago.  Looking at their other results, no team has actually gone out and given them a thrashing this season which would suggest they are a solid enough outfit set up not to get beaten.

Given the circumstances, this was a very good result for us.  Some folk say the sign of a good team is that it will get a win even when not firing on all cylinders and that's exactly what we managed to do last night. 

It's true, I think I'm right in saying they haven't lost by more than the odd goal all season? As much as we really needed to win last night and anything else would have been unacceptable, it was never going to be easy.

They lost to Chelsea and Tottenham by a couple of goals in the early part of the season.  From then onwards they seem to have worked on tightening things up.  Like I say, taking everything into consideration, fair play to the lads for getting that win. 

[Kneecap]

I still think these lads will get better and better...

Here we go
Here we go
Here we go

[The Left Side]

Nerves must have played a big part in last night's game for the kids as this was a game we needed to win, the pressure was on the team for the first time and they came through.

[pauliewalnuts]

The other thing about it being 'only Reading' is that this is the sort of team many of us thought we wouldn't have the bottle to beat in a relegation scrap. It's early days but I think we are seeing that this side will scrap for points when they need to.

I certainly don’t buy into this ‘only Reading’ stuff. Many of the teams that go down do so as they can’t scrap for points among the teams in a similar position. Yes the game was awful, but we won and got 3 vital points. Do that again against similar opposition and we can believe that we can scrape our way out of this.

If you are going to get relegated, it is the games against the poor teams that you fail to win that do it, not the ones you're expecting nothing from.

You're right, beating similar opposition again would also give us the leeway and, crucially, confidence to carry on building without looking over our shoulder too much.

So long as we don't go down, the strides made in building the club are way, way more important than whether we finish 10th or 15th.

[eastie]

I think what's needed is confidence, there has been a low factor at the club results wise and if we could win at qpr and beat stoke next week lifting ourselves up towards mid table I think the players would play with more freedom and less pressure - the next 2 games could be the the impetus to kick our season onwards and see a real improvement .

[Toronto Villa]

In a season where many of us predicted ups and downs, this was a down with an up ending. If that makes any sense at all.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Delighted with the win.

Its pretty ironic that the game in which we play our poorest out of the past 5, is the second one we win. We were miles off how we played at Sunderland, against Man United, the first half at City and against Arsenal.

After some very nice play in the first ten minutes, the game bogged down into what a lot have described as, and I would agree, a very scrappy affair.

Reading defend really well. They tuck their full backs in, squeeze the space between midfield and their back four and make it difficult.

That said, we created quite a bit. Baker and Clarke went very close from a couple of corners and I thought Weiman should have buried his chance.

Finally a goal from a corner! Excellent delivery from Westwood.

Beneteke was once again excellent.

We desperately need an inside forward and I think Ireland has to start. He’s not the answer, but he does show for the ball and offers a bit of something extra. We say it every week, but the spine needs to be strengthened, with a centre half and a huge central midfielder.

I think perhaps the reason for the poor display is that for the first time in a long time, we were favourites to win a game and that is a new pressure for some of our youngsters.

Summed up perfectly, Ads.

[Big Dick Edwards]

Any news on Enda Stevens?

[olaftab]

I still think these lads will get better and better...

Here we go
Here we go
Here we go

I know we won but there is no need to sing the national anthem.