Victorious Aston Villa v Derby Post Match Thread.

[PeterWithe]

There was a moment in the first half when I turned the air blue when he had the chance to pass into Adomahs run but again turned into traffic and lost the ball, that said he's pretty much the only goal threat we have so.....

[Skerra]

Let me start by saying that I'm delighted we got all three points and another 3 on tuesday would virtually make us safe from relegation. However, let's be realistic, the tactics we use are a nightmare. What is all this with bringing everyone back to defend corners and free kicks. If we clear the ball, it comes straight back as we have no one up the pitch. Plus, we just don't get enough players into the opponents penalty area when we attack which is obviously the reason we score so few goals.We need to push up as a unit for our attacks and midfielders should be in or around the box especially as we are only playing 1 up front. Finally, we just play far too deep for long periods in a match and need to close down much quicker than we do.

[pauliewalnuts]

Went down today, first time in a while.

Most important thing was three points. However, it was a truly inept showing

We barely saw the ball and spent the whole second half trying to concede. We were lucky Derby are so blunt up front.

The last ten minutes were incredibly nail biting and tense. So glad to have the three points but Christ, it was grim to watch

[LukeJames]

Didn't go today but thank fuck for the win. 4 points minimum against bristol city and rotherham and we can start to look towards getting ready for next season.

[saunders_heroes]

Horrible to watch, but who cares, we won and that's what matters. Let's just get safe, beat Small Heath, finish above them then give Bruce a pre-season to actually build a team rather than just the 11 individual players we see in every match. Then maybe next season will see us fighting for promotion rather than seeing us bottom half in this season. Let's face it the club was a complete joke last summer and it's gonna take time. Hard to take but that's the reality of it, in my opinion.

[Nelly]

We won - I love it! Glad to read Bacuna played well up to his sending off.

[brontebilly]

Cracking cross from Bacuna for Green's chance. He has missed three very similar chances for us, all headers at the back post.

[PeterWithe]

Horrible to watch, but who cares, we won and that's what matters. Let's just get safe, beat Small Heath, finish above them then give Bruce a pre-season to actually build a team rather than just the 11 individual players we see in every match. Then maybe next season will see us fighting for promotion rather than seeing us bottom half in this season. Let's face it the club was a complete joke last summer and it's gonna take time. Hard to take but that's the reality of it, in my opinion.

I expected him to get the defensive durability and organisation right eventually but I'm beginning to doubt he's the man to get us scoring the goals needed.

Hope I'm wrong

[PeterWithe]

We won - I love it! Glad to read Bacuna played well up to his sending off.

Yes he showed the midfield energy we have been sorely missing but silly, deserved, sending off and we won't see him for a long while I'd guess.

[Lsvilla]

Cracking cross from Bacuna for Green's chance. He has missed three very similar chances for us, all headers at the back post.

I'm a glass half full kind of person - helped by going to the windies for on Tuesday for the cricket - so I see it that he's getting closer and will bury the next one.

[john e]

Garbage, this bloke will kill the Villa if he allowed to carry on

[andyh]

We are virtually in March and this team looks absolutely knackered after 50 minutes.
Is fitness STILL a problem?

[kippaxvilla2]

The Boss: Bruce on Derby win, Chester, Bacuna, Johnstone and Hourihane

Manager Steve Bruce spoke to the press following the 1-0 win over Derby County.

His views in full are below.

On the win…

It’s relief for everyone concerned.

It was always going to be something like that to get us up and running again. It’s been a long time.

Some of the stuff we have had to take has been fair but some has been a bit unjust.

But we have got a result – that’s all that matters in times like these.

Thankfully, the lads showed a bit of something to get the result.

Derby had some decent possession but didn’t have a shot on goal until late on.

We defended well, worked hard and had one or two opportunities to make it 2-0.

On the penalty appeal by Darren Bent…

I think it could have been.

From where I was, I was thinking it could have been given – but I haven’t seen the replay.

Sometimes you get the breaks. We haven’t had many of them over the past few weeks.

On luck…

We needed something to change.

I was having a bite to eat with my daughter last night and the waiter dropped a pint of blackcurrant and lemonade all over her.

She was head to toe in it and I thought ‘the luck is still not going our way’.

But I will pour a pint of blackcurrant and lemonade over her next time!

I will tip it right over her head – whatever it takes, it’s changed the luck!

ChesterGoalCelebMainOn James Chester’s performance…

He was terrific – that was more like James Chester.

I have had the privilege of managing him before.

He’s had it tough these past few weeks but he was brilliant today and put in a real captain’s performance.

He scored a goal too – that’s a rarity in itself.

On Sam Johnstone’s clean sheet…

It will do the goalkeeper the world of good.

I think he’s an exceptionally good young goalkeeper.

He’s come in at a difficult time. I was pleased for him too.

He works tirelessly – he works and works and works.

It was good to see him make the save – it was their only real effort.

BacunaDerbyMainOn Leandro Bacuna…

I thought he was excellent in the match – but he’s overstepped the mark and done something stupid.

He has made a mistake. The linesman got the decision horribly wrong. There’s a huge frustration but he overstepped the mark and he knows that.

He now misses some games which is sad – and a big hefty fine from me. So he will be a miserable lad for the next couple of weeks.

Overall, he was brilliant on the pitch. He reminded me what a good player he is.

I thought he was arguably our best player so it was a shame he spoiled it in the heat of the moment.

On having something to build on…

This is where we are at the moment.

I am really privileged to have the job. I have waited  20 years for it.

I will, given time, get it right. I have done it at every club I have been at and I will do it here. We are nowhere near it at the moment.

But we will keep working hard and keep improving.

The backing I have received off the chairman and chief executive has been terrific.

On Conor Hourihane’s absence…

Conor got a deadleg off Leandro on Friday.

Both went for a header and Leandro smashed into his thigh.

He smashed Conor so he got into the team.

Conor could be available for Tuesday, though.

[Axl Rose]

Went down today, first time in a while.

Most important thing was three points. However, it was a truly inept showing

We barely saw the ball and spent the whole second half trying to concede. We were lucky Derby are so blunt up front.

The last ten minutes were incredibly nail biting and tense. So glad to have the three points but Christ, it was grim to watch

Even though I only watched it on a stream here in Japan, that's exactly how I'd summarise the match.

It's just nice to win a game at the end of the day.

Hughes was man of the match for me.

[SoccerHQ]

Pretty much agree with all SB is saying although he does seem to have gone into survival mode now constantly repeating he'll get it right. Let's hope he's right.

Interesting he thinks the Bent incident was probably a penalty....I have to say I was aswell. Probably balances out the Barnsley penalty that.