[bomberbrown1968]

At last, and I know we weren't great today, but there were some positives for the first time in a few games.

I can only echo what's been said before, what a difference a bit of width and a bit of pace make.

My positives today were Varela who looks a real handful and made a mug of Hutton a couple of times, there was an air of expectancy when he got the ball today, which we haven't sensed for a long time and have missed, I think we may have a proper winger for the first time in a few years.

Thought Sess had a good game today as well, given a bit more freedom today and didn't try to do one trick too many or beat one man too many as he's prone to do.

McAuley looks like he's never been away and the right/left combination with Lescott looks the business, Benteke had a couple of snap shots and half chances but wasn't able to get in behind or in between our central pair.

My near run for MOM was Widsom, knocked by quite a few on here, mainly because they want to see Gamboa in but IMO it shouldn't be at Wisdoms expense, defended well, linked up well with Sess and never gives the ball away.

But MOM for me today was Mozza, I thought he was superb, everything good seemed to go through him, admitted they were a man short in midfield but it always seemed to be Mozza who found and exploited the space there was, whether it was in front of the back four or linking up with the front men, I lost count of the number of times he picked the ball up in the middle, found a yard for himself and set us on down the flanks left or right  

As much as I want Irvine out , I never WANT us to lose and even more so against the Villa, so 3 points today buys Irvine some more time and another chance to learn and prove me wrong, gives us a platform to go on from next week and lets me enjoy Saturday night a bit more than I have for the last 6 weeks   .