Villa - Fulham post match thread

[rougegorge]

I think tonight showed if Buendia has an off night as he did pretty much whenever he touched the ball then Ollie gets pretty isolated so that could be a problem for the remaining games.

As little attacking threat as Fulham offered, they seemed to get that part right. Whether it was more by luck than design is hard to call.

Yes Buendía and Watkins were a bit off it tonight.

Fulham stepped up a few yards in the second half and did better, but their expected goals of 0.09 does say a lot about their threat. We only conceded one shot all game, and although we huffed and puffed in the 2nd half, the only way they were going to score would have been through a mistake. They certainly did way more fouls than had shots.

Mings played really well again.

[The Edge]

That was a tough watch at times but who cares when our run of results have been so spectacular? I thought Konsa was an absolute rock in rhe second half. Moreno brilliant in the first half but did nothing second. Was that a tactical change by Fulham or just Morenos fitness levels? If it's tactical I think that's the first time Unai has been out thought by an opposition manager since he took over at B6. Thought the ref was piss poor especially when a rare second half chance for Watkins was clearly deflected for a corner. The crowd was quiet but it was that kind of occasion especially with such a piss poor away section who must of all travelled onthe same bus. We are fifth inthe league. FIFTH. Let that sink in.

[PeterWithesShin]

When Unai arrived we were 3 points off bottom place.

[Bobby Boy]

A gritty, hard-fought win in the end and a massive 3 points.

Really enjoyed our first half performance and thought we were completely in control.

Second half we seemed to drop off whether tactically or through tiredness and ceded some control but without being threatened too much.

One of those games to take the win over the performance but to jump into the top 5 with it is just outstanding.

Rest and recover now for Sunday.

[Chris Smith]

Tired performance in the second half but we toughed it out. We need players back because as well as they’ve done it will catch up on them at some point. Special mention to the two centre backs today, controlled possession in the first half and stood up to their defensive duties in the second.

[Martyn Smith]

One highlight of that night that will stay with me was being able to get a train home. Free too as the Aston ticket machine wasn't working...

[olaftab]

I thought we were sublime in the first half, playing with confidence, control and penetration. Second half was painful however I couldn’t see Fulham scoring in a month of Sundays.

[Sexual Ealing]

One highlight of that night that will stay with me was being able to get a train home. Free too as the Aston ticket machine wasn't working...

That train's always 'free', isn't it?! I've certainly never bought a ticket for it. Although it helps that I'm normally getting off at Barnt Green, which is unmanned, when I use it.

[DB]

We did enough, Fulham however decent they have been this season, were well off it tonight. 2nd was pretty dull, Dougie MotM for me and possibly McGinn.

[Risso]

Four points from two games where we haven't really played at anything like our best. We're just in that winning groove at the moment, which is lovely.

[Gareth]

Thought that was an absolutely excellent performance, 2nd gear, comfortable victory, Konsa and Mings had a cigar on.  It didn’t need to be eyeballs out as it was controlled composed and pretty easy.

Like Forest and Bournemouth beforehand Fulham came to protect the point and hope they could nick something….they also failed :-)

We are getting respect from opponents now, which makes the results even more impressive.

Could do with Kamara, Cash & Coutinho getting fit over next week or so…Ash could do with a rest and Buendia needs some competition from Coutinho as tonight he was dispossessed soooo easily time and again.

Bring on ManYoo…we might not win (we might do) but they will fear us and what we can do….

[Risso]

That had to be the smallest and quietest away contingent of the season, absolutely pitiful turnout from Fulham, even Bournemouth brought more.

[PeterWithesShin]

In the space of 6 months we've gone from the team everyone wanted to see next on their fixture list to a side not one club in the country wants to see next on their fixture list. And most impressive of all, we've done that with virtually the same group of players.

[Drummond]

We did what we needed to do. They had one shot in 90 minutes. We did them.

We can win in lots of different ways now. We can pass the ball. Retain possession. Make the opposition make mistakes. Frustrate the opposition.

We're going places.

[Ads]

Tired 2nd half performance. And tired north west support after that shithouse of an M6.

Man United
Wolves
Spurs
Liverpool
Brighton.

Only 1 team above us in our last 5. Pretty remarkable when walking back from Craven Cottage 6 months ago.