Tonight, Villa chase a third successive league victory on the heels of 3-0 and 2-1 wins against Barnsley and Nottingham Forest. Currently sitting ninth, Villa could, perhaps surprisingly, climb into the playoff spots with a win and other results going our way. A win would also be the second in a row away, which would be an encouraging sign.

Circumstances prevent me from writing much more of a preview, but we know what we’re looking for: another three points to capitalize on a favorable run of fixtures and get us back on track following a slow start. The obvious question will be energy levels following Saturday’s game, although Villa didn’t look to be pushing too hard against Forest. The team sheet will be interesting as, for example, we wonder whether someone like Jonathan Kodjia will be starting after going 75 minutes at the weekend.

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John Clark
John is co-owner of AVL, and has followed the Villa since the '70s. A journalist by trade, he is, by most accounts, a very nice person. You can follow me on Twitter @JClarkKohoutek. It's an astonishing experience. Or a complete waste of time.

Comments 97

  1. OldVilla

    Thanks for putting something out pre-match John, even with personal issues to sort ……
    I will be lucky (if thats going to be the correct word) to be able to watch the game tonight on AVTV, being an International Villan and having paid my money!
    Really not sure what to expect playing against a club like Burton in a small ground. Bit like the games we used to go to in the old 3rd division back in 70’s.
    Yes we should win. BUT which Villa team will show up tonight and which team will be picked? Lots of ifs and buts as players are not yet completely match fit and others may not have the legs after the weekend.
    The way I see things is that SB is attempting to get players who can fill in when necessary and play the same way as those they are replacing. But best laid plans and all that ……..

    However as I am just recuperating after smashing my ribs at the weekend and being on industrial strength painkillers (plus half a bottle of wine) ……………. I will say 3-1 to the Villa as we continue to progress up the table …..

    st75 – I doubt SH will remember me at all as it is years ago and me and my lot were never part of the wider mobs. But was with him on the fence in the Southend ground before the game when Chelasea turned up to say hello ………………. Oxford away that horrible day when we got kicked out of the home end ………… Port Vale 4-4 draw outside their end …………………. met him at that pub his missus used to work at and had a bit of trouble with one of my lot who decided to pick a fight wth him lol …………………… loads of times we met but never was part of the same lot …..
    Enjoy the time in Burton and maybe you’ll see the game?!!

    oldvilla

    Enjoy, oldvilla

  3. Mark King

    thanks JC yes he is defo in.

    Johnstone, Elmo, Terry, Chester, Taylor, Whelan, Hourihane, Snodgrass, Adomah, Davis and Kodjia

    Steer, Samba, Hogan, Onomah, Bjarnason, Hutton, O’Hare

  5. John Clark

    Well, hope the codger doesn’t do himself an injury playing too much too soon. He did look much more like himself Saturday than the first game back (which you’d expect).

    Whelan…I’d just put someone else in there from the off. He’s got to be gassed.

  11. IanG

    OV – If you’re yodelling we’re happy for you, at least you’re in Switzerland, very kind.
    Glad you can see the match, here hope to get the stream for once.
    Thanks JC, hope everyone gets better soon.
    I say 2-1 but I never get any numbers if I do the lottery, so here’s hoping.
    st75 hope you’re still standing.

  23. Canadian Villan

    Thanks lads, never mind i’ll have to just keep up with the BBC text. Wish they would let us have Radio WM over here, gonna have to look at getting a ghost IP for weekday games I guess.

  30. Canadian Villan

    Already went and subscribed to BeIn Sports and they haven’t had a damn game yet this year and that Dazn which isn’t bad, $20 a month, but I cant get that at work, just good at home when Sky have the games

  34. Trinity

    JC
    Echo others in thanking you for the match preview.
    OV
    Hope your ribs hold together, mate.
    Thanks for keeping us up with the score lads. Agree, Villa MD, if they can score again give O’Hare et al a run in the second half. Don’t usually get the chance.

  38. Trinity

    IanG
    Cheers! and a fresh morning it is. No work today. Have a meeting at 10. That’s it for me. Villa going well puts a smile on the face. Three scorers.
    UTV

  40. VillaMD

    Did u see Davis walk off at 1/2 time…he could barely make it to the sidelines. That’s running your butt off. Amazing youth. Iana – let’s hope we see some more youth…this game is already over

  41. OldVilla

    Being able to watch the game on AVTV – great team display, everyone working for each other. Some very good football being played and nice passing. They seem to be now aware of where each of their team mates will be, now that they’ve played together for a few games.
    Whelan had a good 30 minutes but then played a couple of loose passes. Elmo having a good game along with Snodders and Taylor. Kodger looking sharp, Davis working his socks off and showing no litte skill.

    Maybe another quick goal and a few changes can be made …..

    oldvilla

  42. Canadian Villan

    It will be the Rocket man’s fault letting all those missiles and a nuke off, so now we have a possible eruption on US soil, and a complete mad man with his hand on the little red button. I think i might head way up north the the Arctic circle for a few months out of the path of any stray nukes lol.

  49. John Clark

    Fantastic result…have to watch the full replay, but the first two goals were beautiful, good to see Snodgrass get going, and didn’t see the fourth.

    Well done the lads!

  50. Trinity

    Aye, JC.
    And there’s nothing flukey about those goals, either. They were all confidently taken.
    SB is right too that the team needs to keep its feet planted firmly on the ground in terms of not getting cocky. I hope with three straight wins, Villa has truly turned the corner.

    Ian
    Like the new avatar. Liked the old one too.

  51. Ian

    Canadian Villian
    Yep it was lunch time. I’ll have to catch the replay.
    It’s funny but I figured the dam would burst against burton.
    I’m going to wear out my “yippee”

    Iana—you expected me to keep the old one?! After that nasty comment? You weren’t the first. 🙂
    The old one was 5 years old so a new one was due.

  53. Mark King

    JL- Apparently my ears are working 🙂

    Goals from Keinan Davis, Albert Adomah and Robert Snodgrass put Steve Bruce’s side in complete control by half-time.

    Substitute Josh Onomah added a fourth with 20 minutes to go as the Brewers were condemned to their biggest home defeat since stepping up to the second tier of English football.

  54. DarrenO

    Caught most of it last night, pace and power in attack, ability to change the way we attack and ask different questions when Hogan came on, competition for most places except the left hand side, another clean sheet, 4 goals.

    Listen we all know it was Burton but we were emphatic in the job we did and with bottom munchers Bolton next, this will only put us in a good space for October.

    Hogan got his call up to the Ireland squad, hope he gets a small run out especially as Walters is looking doubtful.

    Tis a good day to be a Villan

    Deano – drinks and match report 🙂 Heard it was like old times standing in an away end, great for atmosphere, dangerous for the little ones. Seen that Albrighton was in the crowd, on my list of ‘would have him back in a second’.

    Cheers my fellow Villans

  55. Mark King

    Ian/ Iana My Avatar is completely accurate and up to date lads

    Great win at last, brilliant if we have finally clicked and seeing a spread of Goals too, warey that it was Burton and in an easier run of games (saw similar patterns last season), glad we have Bolton next before a bigger test against Wolves.

    Shame Bruce didn’t identify Davis as a bona fide option up top in pre-season and gone for 442 from the off though, we might be top? His assertion that he had to take 40-50 games to sort the defence out is a bit lame considering we got some beatings this season against good sides, it was goal scoring last season and this that needed sorting imo. We have so much quality for this league its scary but would of liked to have seen O’hare last night not Onamah but hey he scored.

    4 of the top six are totally unexpected so far we have taken 1 point from our games with Cardiff and Bristol that will have to change when we face the better teams, over to you Mr Bruce.

  56. Trinity

    Mark
    I advise you to quit smoking. 50% of those who smoke after age 50 die of smoking related diseases.
    That Wolves match should be a good Derby. Last time I was at VP to watch a Villa/Wolves match, we lost and the whole atmosphere went sour. It was March 2011 if anyone remembers it.

  57. Mark King

    Iana- can I still fly? 🙂 never been a smoker although when smoking was allowed in pubs and I was singing in bands it was pretty bad, my Guitar still stinks of it. I remember last seasons when we got a draw at home and lost 1-0 away. They play on the front foot so should be good for steves bus tactic.

  58. Trinity

    Mark
    Be hard to sing with all that smoke. What sort of music you play?
    I can still remember when people smoked on planes and trains.
    Wolves will be a good test.

  59. Mark King

    Iana- I have sung all sorts mate Rock,reggae, blues, country, funk even Punk in my youth though not really my style I’m not a shouter. Look up boogie-snakes on Spotify there’s an Album and an EP, all sorts of styles on there written by the Guitarist but not particularly written for me, it was a fun band though. I used to get chest infections galore from the smoke.

    This is worth a read

    https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/2017/9/27/16372544/expected-villa-burton-albion-aston-villa-adomah-snodgrass-inverted-wingers

  62. Mark King

    tonys woke up 🙂

    Dr. Tony Xia‏Verified account @Dr_TonyXia 11h
    More
    Confidence, confidence, confidence. No more fears for away games. We’re in the right direction. Onto the next one, cheers! All lads! #UTV

  63. Mark King

    One thought just occurred to me, Adomah who got injured early in pre-season was up for sale if I remember rightly with Elmo and the much denied Snodgrass inbound hmmmm…

  64. Plug

    MK
    Shame Bruce didn’t identify Davis as a bona fide option up top in pre-season and gone for 442 from the off though, we might be top?

    I can only imagine what our points tally would be now if that had happened. True, Codger wasn’t available but I don’t think all improvements are due to him. Thought the passing was slicker last night and more incisive. Well done the Villa boys. Also think SB missed a trick not giving O’Hare a cameo appearance. It was an ideal situation to do so.

    Good as the performance was, we still only got 3 points so this fan is not getting ahead of himself. We now welcome the Trotters to VP. If we see them off then we’ll start eyeing the teams holding P1 and P2 in the division. Dare we start thinking about a rocking VP once more?

    COYVB

  65. Mark King

    Plug- yes mate but its all ifs and buts lets reassess after this lot, if we are top 4 we will be doing ok, top 2 and Bruce is a genius 😉

    Bolton (H) Wolves (A), Fulham (H), Birmingham City (A), Preston North End (A), Sheffield Wednesday (H)

  66. Paul Pears

    Great result last night, but the statistics are perhaps the most telling. The stats are: shots Villa 10 Albion 10. On goal Villa 5 Albion 2. Fouls Villa 12 Albion 8. Corners Villa 4 Albion 4. Saves Villa 2 Albion 1. Ball possession Villa 49% Albion 51%.

    This tells me that in the past, Villa may have scored maybe one goal, and the likely result would have been a draw. The huge difference that has come about in the recent matches, has been the clinical finishing at last. We converted 4 out of 5 chances last night. The last time I remember Villa doing that is back in the 70’s…..

    Anyway, well done to the team, Bruce, our wonderful away fans, and the Holte Enders in the Sky, who are obviously being led by Steamer now, and making things happen…!!!!

  68. B6toBrasil

    Morning all.after 6 years of defeat after defeat,it’s good to be winning games again,at whatever level.Perhaps slowly the club is being repaired.
    My main concern,I hate to be negative after 3 wins….but….is Davis.Will we be able to keep him,with the vultures in the PL around?Yes,I think he is that good,he has all the attributes to be a top player.If we don’t go up this season,can we hang on to him?

  69. Mark King

    Brasil- he was signed on an 18 month contract that needs sorting ASAP along with a few other youth players. Davis featured 6 times last season but ignored in the preseason pretty much.

  70. DarrenO

    Lets hope his agent is looking at commission in terms of a first team contract with promotion re-negotiation clause as opposed to let me get commission on getting you a move to Arsenal.

    Agents drive these things more so than players, certainly January will be a risky month

  72. Trinity

    Mark
    I listened to the Boogiesnakes on Youtube. It’s My Right is a pretty difficult number to get right, but I think you did a good job there and nice vocals. I could see myself enjoying a pint listening to that. I’ve never used Spotify, yet. I’d like to hear your reggae numbers. You’re from the UB40 generation.
    Looking at the 7500 article, it’s interesting to see how statistically close the two teams were, but Villa converted more chances. Agree that October will be a sterner test, but get through the next game and September will hold Villa in a good place for October. Stay on target through October, Villa should be flying. Nice to finally have multiple goal threats.
    Shame about Andre. Hope he comes back stronger.

  73. Paul Pears

    Have now seen the highlights on youtube now and Davis’s goal was a great finish to a really good cross from Elmo, but have the feeling that both the second and the third goals, Villa were catching up on their luck, and nine times out of ten would not have reached the net, but hey ho, we deserve some luck…!!

    The fourth goal was all about Hogan being unselfish, and then an easy finish for Onomah. Still it ranks as a great Villa win, but shows that maybe we did not quite overrun them as the score suggest, and there was another good goal, which turned out to be offside. Snodgrass looking like one of our best buys recently.

  74. IanG

    PP – having watched it I agree about Snodgrass, he also seems to be getting the others going, although on the last few matches Onomah is only marginally better then our kids.
    Elmo has some quality when he has the space, & he seems to be better at full back.
    He still could have brought O’Hare on, but Bruce can’t stop the defensive mindset.
    Still as you say a well deserved Villa win

  75. Mark King

    Iana- The reggae stuff was very early 80’s and I don’t have anything recorded any more they were on tape. We did have Steve Travers playing sax he’s was the cousin of Brian Travers of UB40 passed now but used to get his hand me down sax’s, If you can get an e-mail to me through the site then I’ll send the Boogiesnakes stuff to you.

    I have looked at the Highlights and yes a couple of the goals had a bit of luck but were well worked anyway. Kodjia seems to be at that phase he was when he joined, getting efforts on target, he will click soon enough I just hope he continues his unselfish play too.

    What looks particularly good is the movement of the front 4 , I say front four because they move around that much its hard to tell our formation. They all switch places and that confused Burton more than anything, Snodgrass kept dropping inside to a AM position rather than play outright RW the rest rotated in front of him. Davis really is a clever player, not particularly pacey but has a brain.

    IanG- shame he didn’t see fit to play O’hare would like to see him link with Adomah,snodders and Hogan.

  76. steamers75

    full English all day breakfast and a cider in The Square Peg , coach to a pub 10 mins from ground by a canal , some weird beers in there , onto game and quite surprised with the result but have to be honest Burton didnt look like scoring ,
    you know they are on about bringing standing back in the stadiums ??? well we have a few thicko’s following us believe me, 1st incident , and lad about early twenties (with his t-shirt sleeves rolled to show off his tats ) moaned all through the first half about being squashed and having to stand to the two poor stewards standing on the running track in front of us , and kept pointing to a few empty seats in the other stand , l said to one of the stewards if l give you £20 can you take this twat and put him in the seats , l then asked him what he expected in a standing area , and is it his first away game because every fucking away game lv been too where its seating only , EVERYBODY Fucking stands , “and if your going to moan all through the second half you best fuck off away from me ” second half the steward said to me “Thank fuck he’s gone ” also these two stewards were season ticket holders at Villa ,
    number 2 incident , l honestly thought l was at the blues ground in the wrong end , a single villa fan was picked on by about 8 young twats and some started throwing punches at him , me and jb stepped in and told them to behave , the one who started it didnt like it when l told him that him and his gang reminded me of the LuLu Warriors at the scum because thats what they do , pick on one fan , jb told the steward that by now they should have got the cops , ho hum ,
    on way home the coach dropped me and three other Steamers off outside the Tyburn House Pub , what a moody place that is , and you got young twats in there on their mountain bikes ,
    score made it all worthwhile though as did the ciders and brandies ,
    lm sure Kristina is here in Brum ,
    roll on saturday ,
    Jenny xxxxxxx
    daughter and wife just floored me !!!! Jessie’s 18 next week and wife bought her a pair of shoes for £400 , just one of 18 prezzies we seem to be buying her , funking mental or what ?? PS can l have them £20 back now lads ,,,, seriously

  78. John Lerwill

    Nice to see the more +ve comments on here about Villa’s play after all the grumbles and “Bruce-out” views in previous weeks! 🙂 … Except the notion of riding our luck! Since when di footie depend on less than 50% luck, I want to know!

    Now I don’t think the task if finished yet – not by a long chalk – but the fact of playing the same players week-in week-out as we’ve been doing this past month – in the League – is paying off. The first-choice (starting) players look more balanced and play more as a team than before, and it would be hard to see Green automatically getting his place back. But he’s one for the future as Adomah hasn’t got that many years left, nor Snodgrass really. But Davis looks like a fixture – just the traditional Villa c-f we needed i.m.o. So much for the £12m signings!

    If we can finish off Bolton in the same way as vs Burton, that would be good. But then we start to play some better teams and the one vs Wolves should be very interesting.

  79. Mark King

    JL- I think Bruce has basically stuck with those that beat Barnsley and why not the old adage of not changing a winning side and all that. Lets hope by the time we meet the better teams they have realised they can play and ignore Bruce 😉

  80. IanG

    Mark = maybe they’ve just been practising ignoring him up to now!
    st75 – thanks for the other commentary, I can taste the beer & nearly fell in the canal

  81. Mark King

    Sometimes he doesn’t help himself does he old Bruce, For someone who doesn’t believe in taking chances he sure seems to believe in Luck 🙂

    Steve Bruce reckons his in-form widemen can fire Aston Villa into the top six.

    “Albert Adomah and Robert Snodgrass both bagged in the midweek win over Burton Albion as the pair continued to wreak havoc on opposing defenders.

    Bruce admitted that Adomah’s re-introduction into the team was by chance although he’s now made himself undroppable.

    Snodgrass is also continuing a steady rise since joining on loan from West Ham and is looking for more goals against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
    “Sometimes you need a bit of luck.

    “I didn’t want Andre Green getting injured but that has opened the door for him.

    “He looks at home on the left. I think he enjoys it.

    “It’s amazing the wide players today play the wrong way round.

    “We have a left footer playing on the right and the right player on the left.

    “But it’s working.

    “The manner in which we won (at Burton) was pleasing.”

    http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-digest-bruce-singles-13690936

  84. Plug

    Bolton will park the bus. SB is going to need his 2 widemen on song to get behind them. An early goal will help so we should be out of the traps faster than a hare with its backside on fire.

    Was Dr X’s remit at the start of Sept to be in the top six by the end of the month? Looking at the fixtures, a win tomorrow may still not put Villa in the top six. I’m guessing SB will be safe if he makes 4 wins on the bounce but we only have 3 games in Oct. As those are tougher tests, we could still be outside the top six come Nov 1st when we play Preston. Let me think, what happens when B’ham teams lose to Preston? Oh yeah, RDM sacked…..’Arry sacked.

  88. John Lerwill

    IanG: “Should be interesting to see if he breaks a winning team & bench up to include Agbonlahor”

    Now *that* is sheer mischief-making! 😉

    It’s really you saying that you can’t see anything that’s good in Bruce.

    Well … as I’ve said before … if this season gets us promotion *and* in style, then I’d hope that Bruce gets a letter of apology from every Villa fan that has badly doubted him.

  91. Mark King

    JL- Definitely true and rightly so wyness said pre-season they were confident of a good start and had no reason not to see Bruce as long term, he also said that football can change quickly and they would be assessing it week to week. Don’t think its all down to Xia though just the nature of Football the ultimate results business.

    “I have really enjoyed working with Steve and I can’t see why we would want to have a change,” said Wyness.

    “I am going into the season very positive we are going to do it.

    “We assess each season week by week, and we all know in football that a week is a long time.

    “But we have every intention this is going to be a long term relationship.”

    Bruce’s record at Villa is not as positive as he would have hoped but with a pre-season to work with his players and the promise of ‘three or four’ new arrivals, he is backing himself to transform the club’s fortunes.

    “Steve is a proper pro and his impact has mainly been man motivation and management,” added Wyness.”

    Bruce might get a letter from me saying what the hell were you playing at? I suppose never having been in the position of having the leagues best squad he continues to be cautious. Bruces problem lies in the fact his skills are in man motivation and management I believe and not coaching also so he is limited in seeing what could be and rely’s on trial and error.

    If we go up John would you give him more money? the next rebuild will potentially be the most important considering the age of the squad.

  93. Mark King

    I asked about the mood at villa from my insider yesterday he says it’s much improved as the the main culprits have not been near the team and JT and Wheelan are having no nonsense. Gabby has not been missed is the message.

  94. IanG

    If we go up John would you give him more money? the next rebuild will potentially be the most important considering the age of the squad.

    Mark – this is the crux of the matter [along with getting promotion in the first place], it is far more into the unknown for him & therefore us.
    As far as Gabby is concerned, he even sadly looked uncomfortable in the team photo.
    If your insider is right about the effect of Terry & Whelan, then the improved performances will keep him out if he doesn’t for once show some consistency & improvement.

  95. John Clark

    Afternoon, all…apologies again for being absent. Hoping that Jenny (now officially the missus) is now truly on the up. Thank you all for the well wishes. Great group, and she’s really appreciated it.

    Working on a fresh post for today’s game, so will have that up here in a few minutes.

  96. Mark King

    IanG- yes mate it will be new territory for Bruce a huge undertaking, just looking at Huddersfield who have spent moderately for the prem and can sort of compete with the lower teams just can’t deal with the top half.

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