A fantastic week for Villa fans—two convincing performances to book ourselves a League Cup semi and humble Liverpool at Anfield. By the time this is posted we will know who we have drawn in the cup (Bradford!) and no doubt Villans will be planning their trips for the away leg (myself included).

Can Villa fans be audacious enough to start to believe that we really can push on and achieve something this season?

Should we be surprised? Most would say yes, as we are aware many pundits wrote us off before a ball was kicked. However, looking at our recent form I would say it was coming. Now unbeaten in the last six, and only conceding four goals in that period, has given us quite a formidable defensive record of late. Rest assured, if Arsenal had posted such stats then all the pundits would be talking about “the old Arsenal back four.” Throw into the equation that this was accomplished with youngsters and this becomes all the more impressive.

Before the last two games in that sequence we looked like we were having trouble scoring goals. And in truth this is correct—only two goals in the first four games of that sequence pointed to either an anaemic front line or lack of creativity, maybe even both.

Something clicked last Tuesday night in Norwich, allowing the midfield and the forward players to shake off their shackles, the goals flowed, seven in two games, and probably most importantly good defensive performances went side by side.

The fruits of Paul Lambert’s work is now starting to bare. As with any team, the first thing that needs sorting out is the defense. If you’re not going to win, stop losing! Yes we’ve had some defensive horror shows, Everton and Man City spring to mind, but they have served their purpose in educating our youngsters. Once the base is sorted then there is something to build on, and the attacking and creative play can be focused on.

Probably the most important thing that I’ve seen this season is mental strength. Some people questioned some of Lambert’s methods, and some even labelled his as arrogant for some decisions, most notably the decision to drop Darren Bent. Firstly I would like to say that I do agree with them, Paul Lambert does carry himself with a swagger and touch of arrogance, and I’m glad!

Arrogance is something you will find that goes hand in hand with winners, people associated with success, the belief that you’re the best or have the potential to be the best, is the hallmark of most champions. Lambert seems to be impressing his personality on our young team, giving the self belief, installing a never say die mentality.

In the Norwich game we went behind and came back, in the Liverpool game we had to hold on through Liverpool’s dominant possession and territory, these are situations where I feel the teams head could have easily dropped, and given how the last two seasons have gone, they probably would have. Another case in point was the potentially confidence sapping defeats we suffered at the hands of the two Manchester clubs. Rather than dwell on losing a two-goal lead or focus on conceding five goals, they came back, and stronger than before.

In sport at the top level, a good proportion of the battle is fought in the head, if Lambert has instilled an air of belief in the dressing room then we can go from strength to strength, especially as this young squad matures.

Have we turned a corner? I’ll let you decide.

I for one have the audacity to hope.

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