We’ll find out if victories over Sunderland and Swindon mean that the team is turning in the right direction. Certainly the next few weeks will be a measuring stick.

Sunderland did match up perfectly for us as their impotent attack couldn’t remotely trouble a make-shift Villa defense. That is a club in a heap of trouble as roughly a year after our old manager took over, that team looked as bad as Steve Bruce’s Sunderland from last year. I though it would take Martin O’Neil a bit longer to run that ship aground.

The axiom that you can only beat who’s in front of you holds true. At this point in Lambert’s team building, any win away from Villa Park is a good win. The next three games obviously figure to be difficult, but picking up a result or two isn’t beyond Villa either. The league in general is a bit more competitive as the top teams have come back to the pack.

While Villa has hardly banged in the goals, Manchester United has shown frailty at the back all season. Gabriel Agbonlahor’s pace has always troubled the United defense. Christian Benteke’s physical attributes make him a challenge for anyone to defend. Having a manager who will attack and exploit these advantages can make all the difference in the world.

I was also encouraged by the midfield partnership of Ashley Westwood and Barry Bannan and hope to see both of them retain their places. Due to injury and suspension Fabian Delph may have to play as a makeshift left back. That will depend how much confidence the manager has in Enda Stevens. Beyond that spot I’d expect an unchanged side from last week.

If the last two times Manchester United visited Villa Park are any indication there’s no reason why we can’t get something out of the match. Last year’s meeting was one of probably a dozen or so games that were beyond awful. United were poor, and if Villa had an iota of attacking intent they could have at least drawn.

Two years ago a team of 10 British and Irish outfield players, many of them homegrown kids, took a 2-0 lead before barely hanging on for a 2-2 draw. Marc Albrighton in particular was immense that game. I wouldn’t mind seeing him start this week and see if he can duplicate that performance.

I’ll be at the pub with every hope that we can get a result. A 3-0 loss wouldn’t be a shock either.

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