Aston Villa 2 vs 1 Smethwick Post Match thread

[PeterWithe]

They're definitely starting to realise that Pulis isn't going to undergo some sort of transformation in how he likes his sides to play just because he's gone to the club "whose model Swansea are following" (read that on that westbrom.com forum this morning).

Jesus...some people. Whoever said that needs to be trapped in a giant butterfly net and dragged away by men in white coats. They'll be taking credit for the Barcelona model next.

Indeed.

They wont need too many tickets for Saturday, quite a few will have disappeared up their own arses.

[usav]

Goals

Thanks. Gabby's first touch as usual was shit but second just superb.

I thought his first touch was just about perfect.

It was a heavy touch, but he got away with it because of his pace.  The one where Lescott cleared off the line was also too big of a touch and he didn't get away with it that time.

[Chris Jameson]

As much as Villa were an improvement on recent performances Albion were bloody terrible, that was also the worst goalkeeping performance I've seen in a long time.

Isn't a last minute penalty winner a wonder thing though!

[Tom_Mc9?]

In the second half I noticed that our players have a complete fear of crossing the ball (particularly on the right side closest to me). I hope that this is addressed in the summer as Benteke should thrive on decent crosses being put in.

[Clampy]

Am I right it thinking Legion couldn't go last night?

Yep. Its Sunderland redux

He is however going on Saturday 

We should club together and send him on the Eurostar to Paris with his better half for the day.

Just to be on the safe side

One of those Megabuses would be cheaper.

[darren woolley]

I'm over the moon with the result get in there a well needed win.

[Clampy]

If I could have wrote a script on how I wanted that game to go, that would have been it.

One of my fave endings to a drama ever!

Nice. Despite not giving much attention to the Albion I can understand the importance of beating them for all our Black Country Villans and you, Lee. Having to live with them every day must be a chore. No doubt they'll be claiming it was a "flukey" win for us. I wonder what the excuse will be on Saturday?

Living in Smethwick, I drink with a few of them. One or two are good lads who you can have a sensible chat with. There are others though who let you know about it when they've won and we've lost. That result was for them.

[timeoutbigbar]

What position was Lowton playing?  Left back?
Has he got a decent left foot?

I actually thought he was very good there last night, put some great crosses in.  I know Hutton is now suspended so he'll have to move to right back, but I'd be tempted to give him a run back on the left when big Al is back, considering our other options.

[Clampy]

As much as Villa were an improvement on recent performances Albion were bloody terrible, that was also the worst goalkeeping performance I've seen in a long time.

Isn't a last minute penalty winner a wonder thing though!

The Stripeys were crap because we made them look crap I reckon. We didn't give them any time on the ball at all, apart from that brief spell after they scored.

[Pat McMahon]

My Bulgarian colleague takes some credit for the victory. It was national holiday on Monday and Tuesday so yesterday he brought in some "Baba Marta" lucky charms to wear on our wrists. He promised me it would work for the Villa last night so I wore it and you saw the results. Happy happy.

I watched the game with another colleague from Doncaster, well used to shit Rovers football. His neutral take was that we were definitely worth the win, Agbonlahor was very good (but gave away ludicrous free kicks in the Albion half), we wasted good free kicks by not putting the ball on target to trouble a nervy Foster, and Okore was "a liability who seems scared of the ball". He didn't get the point of Cleverley "he just runs around a lot, but always a yard behind where he needs to be" and Benteke "seems to not concentrate on the game". He felt that Albion lost out by being too cautious after equalising and should have gone for the jugular. Oh, and Hutton was a definite red.

Our joint man of the match was Clark, with an honourable mention to Lowton at left back playing out of position.

[damon loves JT]

I'm over the moon with the result get in there a well needed win.

yes

[Mister E]

I should have mentioned earlier, I thought Westwood wsa very good yesterday: more dynamic and proactive, and his defensive work was much better than previously.
He played in a midfield unit that looked dynamic and complementary too.

It seems that something is happening on the training ground, and it looks promising.

[PaulWinch again]

Former Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar showed he still has a soft spot for his former club as he celebrated their win over West Brom via Twitter.

The Spaniard sent messages out when Gabby Agbonlahor struck their opener, and after Christian Benteke scored a last minute penalty to win the game after Saido Berahino had draw the Baggies level.

Yesssss!!!!!!! Cmon Villa


Vamos!!!!!! Great win #AVFC 2-1 #WBA

Good lad Carlos.

[Neil Hawkes]

that is brilliant from Delph. lol

Please tell me what he said - can't access the link

[PaulWinch again]

Okore was a bit careless last night, but he's far from a liability. He reads the game well and his last ditch tackle was excellent.