Aston Villa were ahead for the majority of the game via a Chris Herd opener before Luis Suarez got an equaliser to share the spoils at Anfield. For Villa, the positives were in terms of teamwork and shared responsibility. Villa, often a team that have fallen apart under pressure this season, coped well with increase Liverpool pressure in the second half.
For fans, a point may well be more than was expected. Many would have been happy with a single point at the start of the game, but Villa’s early efforts gave an indication that the Birmingham club hadn’t come to simply make up the numbers.
Some questioned the inclusion of Stephen Warnock in a wide midfield role, but with Warnock having prior midfield experience during his time at Blackburn, and Villa’s team showing massive signs of their lack of depth, the choice was far from the worst one that could have been made.
Getting back to player selection, I am sure some fans grumbled with the inclusion of Emile Heskey, but with the lack of players available, and Heskey’s height, as well as his ability to hold up the ball, his inclusion was, in my opinion at least, a fair one.
Aside from Villa’s performance, games elsewhere showed signs that a point was sufficient with Wigan, Blackburn, and Bolton all losing so, in that sense, it seems probable, if not certain, that the club won’t go down this year, though such a realisation should not signal an end to effort.
If Villa are to survive, rather if they are to compete at all, more team performances of the standard of today are needed. Today was far from perfect, but the teamwork shown by players showed a desire to play for each other, to make the opposition work and, even though they didn’t manage it, to win.
Of course, the detractors can point to some fair statistics – Villa’s possession being the prime candidate – but it is a time now for positivity because it benefits the club’s destiny. Many may find the tenure of Alex McLeish to be lacking, and I am no different in that sense, but support is of critical importance.
We have already seen in face offs between Wayne Hennessey and Roger Johnson,as well as between Ben Foster and Peter Odemwingie, that pressure can affect teams. Teams can, as a result, play badly. Therefore to add more pressure, whether it is intended or not, via anger or protests, is actually counter-productive. Nobody is saying don’t express an opinion – as obviously many have – but solidarity may be a significant difference for a team that survives over one that doesn’t.
So it was a weekend where we got a point away at Anfield. Perhaps, with recent form indicating Liverpool were actually performing at a lower level than our current Villa side, a point was insufficient in the eyes of some, particularly with Herd opening the scoring. However, facts are facts, and we have taken a point more than many had suggested, and have edged a step closer to safety.
We may not be happy with where we are at present – I know I am not – but the significance of a united front emerging, whether via the solidarity around Stiliyan Petrov’s illness or another reason, is critical to a close to the season that has more sighs of relief than tears of despair. Villa will live to fight another day, and the effort displayed is a welcome light in an otherwise recently gloomy period for the club.
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