Aston Villa v Burton Albion Post-Match Thread

[Clampy]

I'd say we were mediocre yesterday rather than poor. Burton gave us a good game though and probably deserved a point. I'm not going to knock getting another 3 points. Keeping in touch of the play off spots is the most important thing for now.

[AV82EC]

For me yesterday was about one team having a set system of play they're used to and can do with their eyes closed but they lack the quality to really punish a team. The other lot had the quality but are currently a bunch of rag tag thrown together individuals with no set style or system of play. Ultimately our quality won us the game and for all Burtons supposed superiority did they really trouble us that much?

[Clampy]

For me yesterday was about one team having a set system of play they're used to and can do with their eyes closed but they lack the quality to really punish a team. The other lot had the quality but are currently a bunch of rag tag thrown together individuals with no set style or system of play. Ultimately our quality won us the game and for all Burtons supposed superiority did they really trouble us that much?

In fairness, Bunn pulled off two or three good saves and they hit the post. They can feel unlucky to have not got something out of it yesterday.

[themossman]

For me yesterday was about one team having a set system of play they're used to and can do with their eyes closed but they lack the quality to really punish a team. The other lot had the quality but are currently a bunch of rag tag thrown together individuals with no set style or system of play. Ultimately our quality won us the game and for all Burtons supposed superiority did they really trouble us that much?

In fairness, Bunn pulled off two or three good saves and they hit the post. They can feel unlucky to have not got something out of it yesterday.

You could say we were lucky to get 3 points in more than half of Bruce's wins. I don't know what that shows except there is some truth in the adage that there are lucky managers.

There obviously must be more to it but it feels like for every game where RDM got the team playing well and was thwarted by bad luck Bruce has had the opposite happen.

[Old Kodjia]

I don't think that we've been particularly convincing, other than Brighton away (and even then we failed to win)

The defence is becoming solid and with improvements to midfield, I'm optimistic moving into the 2nd half of the season.  The pressure is on the teams above us to maintain their consitence and I can't see them all doing so, whereas, I can see this Bruce side continuing, if not improving further.

I would say, that if we were so blatantly outplayed, then why was it Burton who were running the clock down?  They did play well and I don't take anything away from them but were they better than us?  I don't think so.  After we scored, it looked only a matter of time until we got a second, at which point, there wouldn't have been a way back for them.  We failed to capitalize on that period between the 2 goals, where we were pressurizing them and looking for a second.  Once they equalized, it understandably gave them a lift.  Replacing Jedinak with Ayew was very brave and inspired (if not dictated by injury) and it won us the extra 2 points.

I'm still not comfortable with the side and we are anything but convincing. We don't look like hammering anybody, like sides around us do.  I have complete trust in Bruce though and can see us clicking in the second half of the season.  Watching Newcastle last night, they looked worse than we did yesterday and Shevley is a massive miss for them.  I accept that they had tougher opposition but even so, their creativity was poor.

Yesterday, although the team performance was poor and disjointed, it was pleasing to see anther sterling performance from Baker, with Chester also doing his job very well.  Burton finished the game with 2 big, strong strikers and I thought our centre backs handled them well (as they had handled everything well for the entire 90 minutes)  Bacuna also played very well and looked lively playing wide.  He also stood up to be counted when moved into a central role when Jedinak went off.  he's probably not the long term answer but regularly proves that he can be relied upon when asked to play.  The other player for me was McCormack.   I thought he did very well yesterday and his interlinking with Grealish was (as always) effective and dangerous.  After his goal, he dropped deeper and really played his part in defending that slender lead.  Bunn also played well, could not be faulted for the goal and I felt far more confident when the ball was played back to him (an important aspect of goalkeeping these days)

Credit to Burton for playing with 2 strikers and having a go.  The difference on the day was the quality that we have at our disposal.  The run and cross from Ayew was excellent and I can't think of a player in the division that I would want more to have been on the end of that cross than McCormack.  As in many of our narrow victories of late, one moment of brilliance has been enough to turn 1 point into 3.  Onwards and forwards.  We are obviously still a work in progress but we are serious contenders for a play off place-Something that looked unlikely after Preston away.

[themossman]

I guess Bruce's plan, predictably, has been to turn us into a tight unit and rely on a moment of brilliance from one of our mercurial talents to get us the points. It's not exactly total football and it doesn't make for demolition jobs on the likes of burton, but it seems to be pretty effective.

[CT]

I know I'll be in a minority, but it's a shame they've dropped DLBIA (which was at least natural after the Reading game) after a home win. Hi Ho Silver lining is so forced just because the name fits in the title. Plus it's shite, IMO.

[in exile]

...Hi Ho Silver lining is so forced just because the name fits in the title. Plus it's shite, IMO.

I've always considered it a Wolves song

[CJ]

I've said elsewhere that near the top of the January shopping list should be a decent keeper, but  Bunn was exceptional yesterday - he pulled off two really good saves in the first half, one of which would have been a spectacular own goal, and a superb save at the end of the game which was the difference between a win and a draw - so I think we can afford to focus elsewhere. We were pretty poor yesterday and I was quite impressed with Burton - all two-touch football with lots of movement to move the ball quickly, but as others have said they lack quality up front to punish teams. Having said that their goal was a cracker albeit that we stood so far off the player crossing the ball that he could pretty much pick his spot. The traffic after the game was awful - took me an hour and ten minutes to get from King Edwards to the Expressway - not helped by what looked like a 4-car shunt just after Park Circus. Hopefully our play and the traffic will be much better come Thursday evening - another silly-o-clock kick off time

[frank]

I've said elsewhere that near the top of the January shopping list should be a decent keeper, but  Bunn was exceptional yesterday - he pulled off two really good saves in the first half, one of which would have been a spectacular own goal, and a superb save at the end of the game which was the difference between a win and a draw

After a disappointing Villa performance I was wondering who would be my man of the match. Baker and Chester were, again, secure at the back. Bacuna offered creativity which was otherwise lacking in midfield and he set up and scored a very good goal. But, as CJ says, Bunn's brilliant last-minute save secured the three points, so he gets my vote. I'd love to see the save again but our very limited TV coverage doesn't show it, or at least not anywhere that I can find it.

[Villa Lew]

I know I'll be in a minority, but it's a shame they've dropped DLBIA (which was at least natural after the Reading game) after a home win. Hi Ho Silver lining is so forced just because the name fits in the title. Plus it's shite, IMO.

I'm with you in the minority.

[Axl Rose]

I've said elsewhere that near the top of the January shopping list should be a decent keeper, but  Bunn was exceptional yesterday - he pulled off two really good saves in the first half, one of which would have been a spectacular own goal, and a superb save at the end of the game which was the difference between a win and a draw

After a disappointing Villa performance I was wondering who would be my man of the match. Baker and Chester were, again, secure at the back. Bacuna offered creativity which was otherwise lacking in midfield and he set up and scored a very good goal. But, as CJ says, Bunn's brilliant last-minute save secured the three points, so he gets my vote. I'd love to see the save again but our very limited TV coverage doesn't show it, or at least not anywhere that I can find it.

Here it is, mate. Right at the end.

https://mobile.twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/813716314258685952?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

[frank]

Thanks Axl!

[brexit villa]

I didn't make much of Burton's support, they all sat. There were taunts of "sat down on yer big out" and I heard someone say shout f off  back to Staffordshire from a Villa fan, which sorts out the rubbish we hear from Small Time Heath and the local rag that we are supposed to be  from there.

[LukeJames]

Yeah I was a bit suprised by how poor there support was too, sat down quietly all game, I was expecting them to make the most of it and create an atmosphere.