Middlesbrough v Aston Villa: Semi-Final 1st Leg Pre-Match Thread

[villa `cross the mersey]

I'm excited as these are hugely significant games. But at the same time it won't feel so much like achieving promotion as correcting a huge mistake.

It's a bit like elbow dislocation. It's easier than you think to pop out, very hard to get back in, but once it is, it's a huge relief, but then it shouldn't have been halfway down your forearm in the first place.

I speak from experience.

I'm impressed you know your arse from your elbow ............ only kidding
Hope you and the others have a great day tomorrow and we end up with a result leaving us with a great chance getting to Wembley ......I will be happy with a draw and totally ecstatic with any kind of win .....look out for  Witton Warrior and say hi to him

[Drummond]

For the club it is, I just can't get excited, nervous or anything over it. It's massive for the club to go up, we need to go up, but for some reason I just can't get worked up like I do before a big cup game etc.

Yep, me too, Though I'm going on Tuesday..

[four fornicholl]

For the club it is, I just can't get excited, nervous or anything over it. It's massive for the club to go up, we need to go up, but for some reason I just can't get worked up like I do before a big cup game etc.

Yep, me too, Though I'm going on Tuesday..

I feel a little bit the same, but more because we're Aston Villa, it's almost below us? We will win though.

[Matt Collins]

For the club it is, I just can't get excited, nervous or anything over it. It's massive for the club to go up, we need to go up, but for some reason I just can't get worked up like I do before a big cup game etc.

We spent time out of the top flight in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s

We’ve fallen badly and I don’t feel it’s beneath us at all

Yep, me too, Though I'm going on Tuesday..

I feel a little bit the same, but more because we're Aston Villa, it's almost below us? We will win though.

[SoccerHQ]

Take a draw now. We’re beat them at Villa park. Must be our biggest game for nearly 30 years. Bigger than any cup final during that period

Nah FA cup final is miles bigger.

We'll get up eventually whatever happens over next few days.

[four fornicholl]

For the club it is, I just can't get excited, nervous or anything over it. It's massive for the club to go up, we need to go up, but for some reason I just can't get worked up like I do before a big cup game etc.

We spent time out of the top flight in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s

We’ve fallen badly and I don’t feel it’s beneath us at all

Yep, me too, Though I'm going on Tuesday..

I feel a little bit the same, but more because we're Aston Villa, it's almost below us? We will win though.

I'm on about play offs, it's more of a last chance saloon. We're better than that! IMO.

[footyskillz]

Villa have a decent overall record at Riverside.
I much hope for an Ipswich type performance rather than the Norwich one. Perhaps somewhere in between.

Some things to note :

villa have least yellow cards overall in the season 56 cards in 46 matches.

Villa have scored 17 goals by headers most in league.

Have conceded least amount of  late goals both home and away and therefor overall.

 Fact is in last 15 mins (after 75 mins) we only conceded 1, yes Once, in 23 away matches.

And in 46 matches overall 4 times after 75 minutes mark conceded a goal. (3 times at villa park)

Thus the defence and organisation can be totally trusted and proven this season to unlikely conceded a goal late on.

Villa 3rd best record away from home at getting points when conceded first . (after Preston and Ipswich)

I think as its a case of taking chances with the goal scored really can have a positive result for second leg.

Scored of  1-1 0-0 or 1-0, 2-0 villa.

Also then there are chances of a headed goal and that boro will have more bookings than villa.

[Matt Collins]

Don’t think our reliance on crosses will work too well v boro. All of their back four are six footers

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Don’t think our reliance on crosses will work too well v boro. All of their back four are six footers

Based on most of this year it won't stop us trying, not that Elmo or Albert have had their crossing boots on recently.
We'll need a few special performances tomorrow. We can do it, we've done it before I just wonder if we can do it again. Really can't predict this one. I can see every scenario from a 2-0 defeat, a 0-0 draw and a 3-1 Villa win.

[four fornicholl]

Jack to give us a worldy(as the yut say) 1-0 Villa.

[TonyD]

Jack to give us a worldy(as the yut say) 1-0 Villa.

Knowing Bruce, tomorrow could be a boring game. But I reckon Jack will do the biz on Tuesday and then again like he did the last time at Wembley. 

[four fornicholl]

Jack to give us a worldy(as the yut say) 1-0 Villa.

Knowing Bruce, tomorrow could be a boring game. But I reckon Jack will do the biz on Tuesday and then again like he did the last time at Wembley.

[Jockey Randall]

Slightly worried that we might have to go with Bunn in goal tomorrow. Pulis will have them shooting from everywhere if Johnstone is out.

[dave.woodhall]

Slightly worried that we might have to go with Bunn in goal tomorrow. Pulis will have them shooting from everywhere if Johnstone is out.

Why would Johnstone be out?

[Jockey Randall]

Slightly worried that we might have to go with Bunn in goal tomorrow. Pulis will have them shooting from everywhere if Johnstone is out.

Why would Johnstone be out?

I thought Bruce said earlier he was with his girlfriend expecting his first baby?