Aston Villa v WBA Post Match Thread

[taylorsworkrate]

It probably does bode well that we were nowhere near our best, but still dominated the ball and territory.

Gayle being banned is potentially massive. He was their best player by a distance today

[SoccerHQ]

Is it ridiculous to be just slightly miffed we didn’t add a 3rd at the end when they were a man down and going to shit? Probably.

Given that we stank Villa Park out for two-thirds of the game, I'd say it was a bit ridiculous yes. It would have been ace though.

Possession 69% to 31%
Shots 21 to 5
Shots on target 6 to 2

Yeah we really stank the place out......WTF....FFS!!!

We played much better v Norwich. Could've easily scored 3 or 4.

Today looked liked one of those slow death home games. The ones we had on target before the goal was just grass cutter shots that trickled into Johnstone's hands.

What hurt us was conceding first and the manner we did. I thought we were good first 20 minutes and then that goal deflated us for rest of half.

Double change should've been made much earlier.

[OzVilla]

And isn’t their 2nd string striker Robson-Kanu who got himself sent off last week. It ay fair is it.

[Nii Lamptey]

We’d have lost that under Bruce. Smith realised that Hourihane would be more effective given how the Baggies set up and changed it (maybe could have done it earlier, but it still paid off).
Had a bad feeling about this one, so glad we’ve come through it.... and the Gayle sending off is the cherry on top! 👌🏼

2 more wins and we’re home! 🙏🏼 UTV!

[themossman]

Possession 69% to 31%
Shots 21 to 5
Shots on target 6 to 2

Yeah we really stank the place out......WTF....FFS!!!

I think that's a good example of stats not telling the full story.  From those you'd think we mullered them from the kick off, which we didn't.

Yeah that’s a reflection of the fact they had a game plan to sit deep after the goal. And it looked like it was going to work until that bit of magic from grealish/Hourihane.

A lot of Leeds games have had stats like that when they’ve lost.

[Villa Lew]

Happy with that in the end, must be favourites now, but still a long way to go. Can't believe SJM will be so ineffective next time, cracker from Conor would start him in 2nd leg, also Green in for Albert. A word for Jed Steer brilliant save in the first half.

UP THE VILLA

[SoccerHQ]

And isn’t their 2nd string striker Robson-Kanu who got himself sent off last week. It ay fair is it.

Rodriguez pulling his hamstring five minutes into second leg please football gods.

[Damo70]

Albion fan on WM wants to appeal the second yellow card for Gayle,.

[cdbearsfan]

Battered them second half but they, generally, defended well. I'd have taken a draw with twenty minutes left. Great win. Need to attack in the second leg and try to finish them off.

[Ducksworthy]

Albion fan on WM wants to appeal the second yellow card for Gayle,.

Was just sat chuckling at that - haven’t listened to WM after a game for years but this is making me laugh.

[Damo70]

Is it ridiculous to be just slightly miffed we didn’t add a 3rd at the end when they were a man down and going to shit? Probably.

Given that we stank Villa Park out for two-thirds of the game, I'd say it was a bit ridiculous yes. It would have been ace though.

Possession 69% to 31%
Shots 21 to 5
Shots on target 6 to 2

Yeah we really stank the place out......WTF....FFS!!!

Our first half possession was 70%. We must have eased off a bit in the second half for the ninety minute possession to be only 69%.

[hilts_coolerking]

It was quite unbelievably stupid from Gayle in the second half.  Booked for time wasting, should have got a second yellow for a body check a few minutes later, and then with the final whistle looming he gets himself sent off for a pointless lunge at the goalkeeper, thereby significantly reducing his side's chances in the second leg.  Footballers never cease to amaze me at how brain dead they can be.

Hilarious!

[SoccerHQ]

Eddie on WM now. Albion "favourites" penalty "iffy" etc.

[ChicagoLion]

The problem Gayle had was that he had just got away with one, so the ref had no option.

[Smithy]

I don't think I've ever seen a player booked for time-wasting with TWO HOURS still to play in a fixture. When that happened, I don't think I've ever been keener to see someone get a second booking.

The fact they came to park the bus says it all really. Gifting them a goal actually put them on the back foot, making them even MORE defensive, and they were out on their feet at the end. I was actually confident we'd score as they tired, but the manner was awesome.

They've got to come out in the second leg and win a game, they're going to leave gaps and there isn't a side in this league better at exploiting space than us at the moment.  Short of them getting a couple of quick goals very quickly and going defensive, I can see us scoring at least two at their place.