Manchester Utd vs. Aston Villa: The Race Is On
Villa likely need to take at least something today. A win would be fabulous, a draw might well do. The big thing is maintaining momentum and belief. At this point, it’s all about belief and desire.

Villa likely need to take at least something today. A win would be fabulous, a draw might well do. The big thing is maintaining momentum and belief. At this point, it’s all about belief and desire.
What do we get today? No idea. We’ve all researched Emery’s Villareal 4-4-2. Will we see it? Are the Mings’ rumblings true? Does Emery get £120m in January? There are always more questions than answers in football, Vill’s version of it at least.
It’s all getting more than a bit nerve-wracking. Villa, while not cut adrift, find themselves needing the three points that West Ham and Watford have finally managed to secure since resuming play. Tonight, it’ll be a tall order getting them against United.
Today is going to be all about mentality. If Villa believe, and play within themselves, they can come away with something. The side have to encouraged by outings against Liverpool and the like, and given yesterday’s results, it should be clear to them that with a little more composure, a little less naïveté, and 90 minutes of effort they’ll be in this one and could finally get over the hump when it comes to playing the top teams, and our own particular devil.
New columnist John Lerwill looks ahead to a possible upset at the Manchester United game whilst asking if the season to date is good enough, even in transition.