If we were too look at the context of recent times, we’d make the following judgements:
Villa can’t get results at home.
Villa can’t score or create chances at home.
In fact, it was starting to feel like the last time Villa won a derby was back in the days before shirt sponsorships or the demise of the maximum salary – back when the poor saps on the pitch still had to work at a factory of mine.
I fully expected a tense affair, and I had a conversation about the probable lineups for Wednesday. One person suggested Marc Albrighton should start. I didn’t disagree, but my first thought was he might be the first man off the bench in the second half when it was 0-0 or 1-1. Of course, it didn’t turn out like that at all.
Out of the seven goals, one was a penalty, two were truly outstanding, and the rest featured a healthy amount of fail by the defending players. Sometimes the most memorable games aren’t always the best played, just like when two flawed fighters square off. What made the Patterson/Johansson trilogy so special was the pairing of a skilled, yet undersized Patterson against the larger Johansson and his suspect chin.
For those of you in the Birmingham area, the derby result has to be all that much sweeter. I’m sure many of you know West Bromwich Albion fans, and I am sure they have been quiet for the most part. Not only did we get the win, but the win further solidifies our position ahead of West Brom. I think they’ll stay up but, if they don’t, they can look back at the five points they dropped against us with two 2-0 leads.
I have no expectation of us signing anybody before the deadline. If we keep playing like this, then ironically we probably won’t need any additions. Yes, it would be nice to have the illusive #10, but I think there are enough clubs between us and the drop to be safe. I think the club also know that if we don’t find a playmaker now, then that has to be the number one priority in the summer.
Coming up this weekend, the game against Everton is the most played top flight fixture, and I’ll be looking forward to us putting a further dent Everton’s Champions League aspirations.
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