Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Post-Match

[PeterWithesShin]

We scored 3, dominated shots and possession, hit the post, had one disallowed, wasted some good chances, and only conceded because Emi turned into Slippy G. It's bizarre that I feel we both dodged a bullet and deserved to win 3-1.

[LeeB]

We scored 3, dominated shots and possession, hit the post, had one disallowed, wasted some good chances, and only conceded because Emi turned into Slippy G. It's bizarre that I feel we both dodged a bullet and deserved to win 3-1.

In the past, that bullet would always hit the mark. It's muscle memory.

[Mister E]

We had all summer to replace Young and what did they do; nada. I think a proper right sided wing back will be top of our shopping list come January. For all his effort Cash is no wing back. He looked far more comfortable dropping back when Bailey came on.

Totally. His inability to get to the byeline today was soooo frustrating.

[Ads]

Easily the better side first half. Their physio occupied more territory in our final third than any of their players. Low, dense block, contesting space, sacrificing wide areas and very niggly and time wasting too. Every set piece an event, every moment to feign injury siezed. A horrible side to watch and to play.

We dominated the ball, but didn't create enough. That said, Watkins ought to have scored, but when Diaby (wonderful touch and finish) I had an awful feeling I'd see the game before. So it nearly proved!

Cash too ponderous for me despite the endless space he had to play in. He seemed reticent to commit their left back and pop a ball in. Zaniolo has some nice touches about him. Torres range of passing is excellent.

Kamara looked a little lightweight to me at times today. He's not in any form at present and I wonder if with JJ back soon, Dougie may fill in as the defensive player.

Incredibly sloppy goal, first to give up possession so cheaply, Torres too easily turned and then a slip.

Lots of huffing and puffing, Johnstone (cheating Stripey bastard) gets so lucky with the Watkins effort off the bar, but we didn't create enough. Then an absolute worlide, truly fantastic volley and finish from Duran and boom, on we march. Surprised the ref kept his bottle and gave us the pen and the rest they say is history.

We weren't awful, first half in particular, but we were massively frustrating. Lovely ball from Tielemans for the penalty and it was nice that all 3 subs contributed.

Villa Park, is a fortress.

[Mister E]

I thought Tielemans added lots to our game, after having taken a few minutes to get into it. He's a class act, and I hope that we make the most of his talents.

[paul_e]

I thought Tielemans added lots to our game, after having taken a few minutes to get into it. He's a class act, and I hope that we make the most of his talents.

I said in the asummer that I could see a fair few games where we'd end up with Dougie and Tielemans as the 2 to give us a bit of extra creativity and today showed where that will help us. I agree that Tielemans added something going forward and that was a big part of how we got on top of them.

[SamTheMouse]

The first half was good, but I don't see how anyone can argue we were anything other than cack for about 40 minutes in the second. Our passing and movement were poor and inaccurate, and we coughed up possession cheaply time and again. Emery looked furious for most of it. I bet if he'd been commenting on the match thread, he'd have felt like using a few *****s himself.

Duran saved our arses (and well done to the lad, delighted for him), although for me it was Bailey who made the biggest difference. As someone else has said - RCF I think - Cash could perhaps be upgraded, at least in terms of his attacking play (and notwithstanding his recent goals). He was in great positions so many times in the first half, basically facing up a defender more or less one on one, and always had to turn back. I kept thinking that if Moreno was in those positions, he'd have produced something. That right-hand side was our main attacking outlet, but didn't really deliver.

Also, Torres scares the shit out of me. It looks to me like he needs to hit the gym and start lifting some weights, but maybe I've been spoiled watching the man mountain that is Mings in that role for so long.

Anyway, we won, and all is well in the world for at least a few more days.

[PaulWinch again]

Tielemans pass for the last goal was great but I doubt anyone other than Diaby was chasing that down. He's so quick.

It was an excellent pass.

[PaulWinch again]

Kamara and SJM had off days, the former is struggling a bit this year. It’s excellent that we have someone of the quality of Tielemans to come in - and soon JJ will be back too. We’ve got some serious midfield quality.

[AV84]

Watching Duran's goal, and it is a brilliant goal, and I get why he'd want to celebrate it, but I notice Watkins goes straight for the ball in the net, presumably to try to get the game restarted as quickly as possible. Not a complaint against Duran, but it's always interesting to see the more experienced players reactions in these situations.

They were going mad at him on the bench to get on with the game.

Just watching the Spurs goals and Richarlison, who would have every reason to celebrate that equaliser, picked the ball up and was marshaling everyone back to kick off again.

Again, it's not a criticism of Duran, to be clear, it's just interesting to see the different mentalities.

[SoccerHQ]

We deserved the win today.

Thought the ref was awful up to the 90th minute. He books SJM fair enough but then ignores blatant and identical Palace fouls. Hughes had a good game for them but he did exactly what McGinn had done 10 minutes before but stayed down injured and avoided a yellow.

Same for Ayew who actually was injured.

Even Johnstone was at it as I don't think I've ever seen a keeper go down with cramp before although of course if we're 1 up with 10 minutes left at Chelsea next week Emi will be doing the same so can't criticise too much.

Back to the ref and fair play to him at least for going over to the screen, watching endless replays and deciding no his initial instinct was correct and it wasn't clear and obvious enough to overturn. Don't think I've ever seen a ref in prem ever do that before.

Luiz is such a good penalty taker aswell, ice cool in that situation which is a nice trait to have.

It was the sort of game where we just had to keep going as I thought we were largely fine but just messed up endless final balls/shots and then got done by the classic suckerpunch.

One thing that does annoy me is how slow we are to actually cross the ball sometimes. Lost count of amount of times Cash got free and instead of quickly looking up and crossing he takes a touch, checks back and then we're outnumbered in the box. Mateta showed how to do it with their goal.

Even this early in the season that's a big win in my book as easily the sort of game that catches us out in previous seasons and then we stop winning home games. This keeps the momentum going at VP nicely.

Onto europe...

[edgysatsuma89]

I know one thing, I'm glad it's Luiz on pens. So much more relaxing.

[Paul.S]

Fully deserved 3 points.
Not at our best but even then we are decent to watch at times. We need to start taking our chances though but we may have just discovered a goal scorer in the making.

[SoccerHQ]

Watching Duran's goal, and it is a brilliant goal, and I get why he'd want to celebrate it, but I notice Watkins goes straight for the ball in the net, presumably to try to get the game restarted as quickly as possible. Not a complaint against Duran, but it's always interesting to see the more experienced players reactions in these situations.

They were going mad at him on the bench to get on with the game.

Just watching the Spurs goals and Richarlison, who would have every reason to celebrate that equaliser, picked the ball up and was marshaling everyone back to kick off again.

Again, it's not a criticism of Duran, to be clear, it's just interesting to see the different mentalities.

Duran's a young lad who's just scored a brilliant goal out of little so I'd excuse him getting carried away and running towards the Holte.

If he'd just tapped in from a yard then I think he'd have just got the ball out of the net and ran back quickly to halfway line as the game was still to be won.

Of course the excessive injury time we're getting currently means not too much time is wasted with the celebrations.

[Somniloquism]

Tielemans pass for the last goal was great but I doubt anyone other than Diaby was chasing that down. He's so quick.

Played for the player. He knew Diaby was quick so could play it longer (but still had to time it so run wasn't offside).