It’s a thick month of fixtures, and Villa are back on the road to take on the reeling Foxes. With Brendan Rodgers having been sacked, Villa’s strong away form will have to contend with not only relegation desperation but also the reaction to Rodgers’ dismissal.

This is the sort of fixture that can say a lot or not much. Bottom line, it’s about whether looking up and digging in to keep pace or move higher mean more to Villa than do perilous straits to Leicester. The things on top of that, tactics, fitness, the bounce of the ball…they do play their parts. But Villa simply need to be hard at it. They’ll have a game plan and adjustments to help. The side are proving they can get results by hook or crook.

Naturally, we think back to teams of the recent past and wonder whether Villa will follow a big win with a damp squib. I’m not getting the sense that’s a mentality Unai accepts, but it can take time to acclimate to winning, what it takes to get ingrained. It seems like it’s starting to happen, and victory today would go a long way to finally building on a great result.

One change, Bailey comes back in and Bouba doesn’t make the squad. So it seems like he did re-aggravate the ankle.

Anyway, that’s it from me.

Over to you.

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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 35

  1. Plug

    Ollie Watkins……Duh, duh, duh, duh.

    Young exposed for the leveller. It was never a corner that Souttar hit the post from. But once given, it has to be defended and they blocked Konsa while Souttar ran to the back post and Maddison dropped it right on his head. Lucky escape.

  8. Ian

    I was thinking draw. A lot of passes went astray today. MOTM? Ashley Young…he fkd over Dewsbury-Hall most cleverly.
    Happy with the win.

  9. Plug

    Bertie you beauty.

    The Villa boys from Aston……We travel near and far.

    Ref was crap awarding Foxes a penalty at the death. It never was.

  12. Plug

    Fabulous result even if some players were below par. But we are in the midst of a heavy schedule. I’ll defo take it. Let the celebrations begin.

  14. James Gill

    Young what a man ,yes got done for goal but konsa didn’t help
    His experience is unreal and to think he is 38 shortly ,about 18 months older than gabby

  17. Plug

    James, Ollie ran his nuts off as usual. And he was still defending for his life in the 3rd minute of stoppage time when involved in the ridiculous peno award. That’s the hallmark of this team. Unai has them working as a tight unit. They fight for each other. Inch by inch they have been welded into a team prepared to put bodies on the line for each other.

  18. Ian

    Over the year I think Villa should be 8-10 ahead of where they are. But, if they had gotten those points Gerrard would still be the manager. Doing an extrapolation to next year we should be on 54 points at this point of the season.
    I’ve been asked to be the next finance minister as well.

  20. Villalore

    What a run we’re on! Dont think we have been here since the MON days. Its been over a decade of highs followed by lows and vice versa, but we finally we have consistency.

    The run in isnt easy and we will know how good the team has become along with our shortcomings in the next 9 games. If we get 11 points from the 5 games left in April, we may have a shot at Europe. Though maybe missing Europe may be a blessing as we dont have depth in the squad and may have a Leicester/West Ham season next year.

    UTV

  21. Plug

    The morning after and I’m overdosing on victories. When the Arse left VP, I was not expecting us to gather 16 points out of the next 18. Above the bindippers and in the blink of an eye, we are 5 points clear of Chelsea. I need to lie down.

    Only 6 points off a Champions League place FFS. OK, others have games in hand but with our confidence now sky high, who knows?

  23. Paul Pears

    Enjoying all the buzz of seeing a very hardworking and together team of players achieving the impossible. This very small squad is very reminiscent of the Ron Saunders days, when we produced the most exciting teams to play in the Villa colours with every player playing for each other.
    Unai has managed to recreate the most important thing that makes a winning team, and that is, they are all in it together, and they will give their all for the team.
    So looking forward to Saturday now and being able to see the boys once more!
    This is a great time to be a Villa fan and look forward to each match as they come.
    I haven’t commented much because I feel that although some have given outstanding performances, it still all about the total team effort.

  24. Mark King

    Was there ever any doubt?

    Some of the Movement and passing from Beundia is superb and runs forever, Bailey not suited to the RW but getting better with his choices. Bertie doesn’t miss those when in position and not surrounded another that’s not really a RW. Watkins, what can you say the lad has found his finishing and doesn’t exhaust himself so much even though he filled in at the back more than few times. Ginny is superb and has added turning to his game without using his arse. Luis despite a terrible temper is making Kamara wonder if he needs to rush back, Ramsey getting better and better. Back four/ they look like they know what they are doing and dare I say the passing is much improved. Martinez back to making impossible saves.

    Biggest improvement is Unais ability to see threats and Nullify them while not harming our own threat.

  26. Desmond Magrath

    Good comments from everyone. This site is becoming like the team–calm and measured.
    Emery has meshed what was looking like a hotchpotch of players,into a team that can play football.
    The one area where I think Villa still struggle is defending set pieces. We were lucky Leicester missed a golden chance early on with Martinez “well beaten “. Otherwise the defending has become more tightly knit,hence the number of clean sheets.

    Just because Forest look in disarray with injuries and only one away win all season,Villa need to be on guard from over confidence. I’m sure Emery will not let that happen.

    UTV.

  27. Heroes-and-Villans

    yeah a relief to see ramsey settling now under unai ball. was getting worried about him.

    he could be insane….just has to work on his awareness a bit more. against chelsea there was 2 times he could of squared it off to ollie but loves carrying the ball a bit too much at the mo….release!

  28. Heroes-and-Villans

    You just know unai is drilling them night and day. he was fuming after conceeding lots against arsenal and man city….he was like no we need the clean sheets…..ever since 2 goals conceeded and 1 was a pen!

    remarkable

  30. Heroes-and-Villans

    des

    yeah you can take nothing for granted…forest will be figting for there lives.

    one game at a time.

    i really hope the vp crowd turn up and make some noise. really get behind it as its been a bloody morgue

  31. Plug

    Heroes, I’ll be there on Sat and I won’t be quiet. Agree it’ll be a tough match and I expect Forest to kick anything that moves given their predicament.

  32. Plug

    The ref for Sat is Anthony Taylor. His record this season is 21 games, 7 reds, 79 yellows which is easily the most by any official. He’s from Swindon. Let’s hope he supports one of the other teams in the relegation scrap.

    VAR man is Simon Hooper and he’s a Manc.

  33. James Gill

    For a change not wondering what team villa will pick or system,god for the days of Bruce’s bingo balls,or gerards benching best players
    Saying that I would like to see us scoring a few,still remember woodcock scoring 5 I think against us

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