Reading, for their part, have had a rough start to the campaign under Paul Clement, losing three before also drawing 2-2 in their last outing. I’d prefer today not be the one where they start putting it together. Villa aren’t too far off the pace, and could well have either won or lost the game midweek. Maybe today, Villa can build on the good moments against Brentford and start putting together a full 90 minutes that sees them comfortable and assured.
Villa return to league action at Portman Road, facing an Ipswich Town side who were shown the League Cup door by Exeter and have not exactly gotten off to a flyer in the league. Though Villa fared better in terms of their result, it was hardly vintage stuff, and Villa were rather lucky to keep a clean sheet, never mind advance. Paul Hurst and Steve Bruce will both be looking for more from their teams.
After a dizzying summer, all of a sudden Villa’s first match is upon us. And it seems almost like an afterthought, even thought it’s hugely important for any number of reasons. This is why a traditional season preview just hasn’t been working for me right now. So here’s the crap version.
Up til now, it’s all been fun and games, always another day, another possibility. After the final, well, season two in the promotion stakes will be final, for good or bad. I really just want to wake up and see that we’ve won. But before it comes to that, I have to say it’s been a good ride.
Here we are. Forty-six games played, 46 games out the window. There’s only two that count, now. Villa’s aspirations, kindled by Dr. Tony Xia’s ambitions, will either be within reach or cruelly denied by the time we crawl into bed Tuesday night. And how we feel tonight may well be all we need to know.
