As we go into the game against Cardiff City, Aston Villa need to make an impact and come away with three points – anything less, and the club will find themselves embroiled in yet another relegation battle.
Perhaps the above gives the indication that Villa won’t be involved if they do win – which might be inaccurate – but putting more distance between us and the relegation zone can only be a positive.
One thing we have found this season is that appearances can be deceiving. Before the game against West Ham United, Villa were 10th in the league – a position that might well imply that the club was in mid-table safety.
However, as we all know mid-table means something different to times past. Years ago, if you were in mid-table, you were almost in a pointless situation – nothing to play for, no European push and no fear of relegation.
Nowadays, things are most definitely different. We’ve seen, even as far back as the Gerard Houllier era, well, season, that just a few wins can take you from the being capable of being relegated to 9th place.
In a sense, this increased competitiveness is something that many wanted – the idea that any team could beat any other, though the truth is all any fan wants is for their team to win, whether they win by an inch or a mile.
The issue as we go into the Cardiff game is that it illustrates a change in both clubs. That Cardiff and Villa are within a few points of each other in the same league is something that reflects both the decline of Villa and the comparative success of their Welsh opponents.
Perhaps such a statement is vaguely insulting to Cardiff fans, suggesting that Villa are a better team. Historically, that argument is impossible to disagree with, though the present is undeniable – there are just a handful of points between the two teams.
Villa will go into the game in the somewhat reversed logic of being happier to be playing away rather than at home. As we know, there is likely a higher probability of us winning at the Cardiff City stadium, though that does little to soothe the pain of those of us who pay to turn up at home games.
Whatever happens – and hopefully it is a win for us – there has to be some kind of momentum cultivated by Villa, or we will face yet another situation where we are upset, frustrated and increasingly disinterested.
Can Villa take three points? I hope so, though the fact I am resorting to hope rather than faith in recent months tells its own sad story of Villa’s decline.
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