We're On Our Way!
It shows how much expectations have risen in 12 months that we have just beaten a team relegated from the PL and still a section of fans found things to moan about. How good Villa are is debatable but we need 30 wins for promotion and we have one out of one so need 29 more from 45 matches to reach the Holy Grail.
CC went with a fluid formation which was probably closest to 4231 or 4141 with Fletcher up top and Bannan protecting the defence. We started brightly & dominated the first half although we lost our momentum when Fletcher was forced off with a head injury after a very promising start. The fact that we could bring on Hooper from the bench shows how far we have moved forward since last August.
Abdi also had a promising debut, doing the simple things well & keeping the ball moving. Just when it looked like we would have to settle for a draw, we snatched all three points at the death to maintain our record from last season of winning the most late points. FF took advantage of a poor clearance by the keeper after good pressing by Hooper and finished clinically.
We have the ability to win games by dominating but we can also steal points with players like FF, Hooper & Fletcher, who often only need one chance to win a match.
Westwood - 6 - just routine saves
Hunt - 6 - dangerous going forward but struggled defensively second half
Lees - 7 - goal saving block
Hutchinson - 7 - great positional play
Pudil - 6 - solid, bit tired final quarter
Bannan - 6 - couple of careless passes
Abdi - 7 - linked play nicely
Wallace - 6 - bright start, mixed crosses, ran out of gas
Lee - 8 - ghosted into some good positions
FF - 8 - match winner
Fletcher - 7 - bright start, curtailed by injury
.........................................................
Hooper - 6 - bright, his challenge created goal
Nuhiu - 6 - showed CC's attacking intent
Palmer - 6 - did what was needed
Stat Attack:
Goals: FF - 1
Assists: None
Touches: 65 - Hutchinson, 62 - Abdi, 61 - Lees, FF, 60 - Bannan, 57 - Hunt, 53 - Lee, 50 - Pudil, 46 - Westwood, 35 - Wallace, 24 - Hooper, 20 - Nuhiu, 13 - Fletcher, 6 - Palmer
Tackles: 2 - Hunt, Bannan, 1 - Pudil, Lee, Abdi, Hooper
Interceptions: 6 - Hutchinson, 3 - Lees, Abdi, 2 - Pudil, Bannan, 1 - Hunt, Palmer
Clearances: 16 - Hutchinson, 11 - Lees, 8 - Pudil, 4 - Hunt, 3 - Abdi, Hooper, 2 - Westwood, Bannan, 1 - Lee, FF, Nuhiu, Palmer
Attempts: 7 - FF, 3 - Pudil, 1 - Hunt, Lees, Bannan, Abdi, Fletcher, Nuhiu, Hooper
Attempts On Target: 3 - FF, 1 - Lees, Pudil, Hooper
Key Passes: 3 - Abdi, 2 - Pudil, Lee, Bannan, 1 - Hutchinson, Wallace, FF
Dribbles: 4 - FF, 2 - Hunt, Lee, Bannan, 1 - Abdi, Hooper
Dispossessed: 4 - Nuhiu, 2 - Wallace, Hooper, 1 - Lees, Lee, FF
Bad Control: 6 - FF, 2 - Hunt, Lee, Bannan, Fletcher
Crosses (Accurate in brackets): 9 - Wallace (2), 4 - Pudil (2), FF (1), 3 - Lee (3), 2 - Hunt (0), Bannan (1), Nuhiu (0), 1 - Palmer (0)
Passing Accuracy (Total Passes in Brackets):
95% - Hutchinson (41), 93% - Abdi (43), 91% - Lee (34), 89% - Fletcher (9), 87% - Bannan (46), Hooper (15), 82% - Wallace (22), FF (33), 81% - Lees (41), 80% - Nuhiu (5), 78% - Pudil (23), 71% - Hunt (24), 67% - Palmer (3), 46% - Westwood (37)
We again showed our ability to win a tight match. The movement off the ball, particularly from Lee, Abdi, FF & Hooper was for me the difference. CC went for the win even when Villa were getting on top and that attitude will help us get where we want to be.
29 more wins & we are promoted.
Would also add that the atmosphere was good although that is hardly surprising in an opening match against a team that has dropped out of the PL. The band kept the tunes flowing & the North Stand boys were magnificent. Let's hope we can continue this atmosphere when it really counts when we play Wigan & Bristol City because that is probably when fan support will be more important.
It shows how much expectations have risen in 12 months that we have just beaten a team relegated from the PL and still a section of fans found things to moan about. How good Villa are is debatable but we need 30 wins for promotion and we have one out of one so need 29 more from 45 matches to reach the Holy Grail.
CC went with a fluid formation which was probably closest to 4231 or 4141 with Fletcher up top and Bannan protecting the defence. We started brightly & dominated the first half although we lost our momentum when Fletcher was forced off with a head injury after a very promising start. The fact that we could bring on Hooper from the bench shows how far we have moved forward since last August.
Abdi also had a promising debut, doing the simple things well & keeping the ball moving. Just when it looked like we would have to settle for a draw, we snatched all three points at the death to maintain our record from last season of winning the most late points. FF took advantage of a poor clearance by the keeper after good pressing by Hooper and finished clinically.
We have the ability to win games by dominating but we can also steal points with players like FF, Hooper & Fletcher, who often only need one chance to win a match.
Westwood - 6 - just routine saves
Hunt - 6 - dangerous going forward but struggled defensively second half
Lees - 7 - goal saving block
Hutchinson - 7 - great positional play
Pudil - 6 - solid, bit tired final quarter
Bannan - 6 - couple of careless passes
Abdi - 7 - linked play nicely
Wallace - 6 - bright start, mixed crosses, ran out of gas
Lee - 8 - ghosted into some good positions
FF - 8 - match winner
Fletcher - 7 - bright start, curtailed by injury
.........................................................
Hooper - 6 - bright, his challenge created goal
Nuhiu - 6 - showed CC's attacking intent
Palmer - 6 - did what was needed
Stat Attack:
Goals: FF - 1
Assists: None
Touches: 65 - Hutchinson, 62 - Abdi, 61 - Lees, FF, 60 - Bannan, 57 - Hunt, 53 - Lee, 50 - Pudil, 46 - Westwood, 35 - Wallace, 24 - Hooper, 20 - Nuhiu, 13 - Fletcher, 6 - Palmer
Tackles: 2 - Hunt, Bannan, 1 - Pudil, Lee, Abdi, Hooper
Interceptions: 6 - Hutchinson, 3 - Lees, Abdi, 2 - Pudil, Bannan, 1 - Hunt, Palmer
Clearances: 16 - Hutchinson, 11 - Lees, 8 - Pudil, 4 - Hunt, 3 - Abdi, Hooper, 2 - Westwood, Bannan, 1 - Lee, FF, Nuhiu, Palmer
Attempts: 7 - FF, 3 - Pudil, 1 - Hunt, Lees, Bannan, Abdi, Fletcher, Nuhiu, Hooper
Attempts On Target: 3 - FF, 1 - Lees, Pudil, Hooper
Key Passes: 3 - Abdi, 2 - Pudil, Lee, Bannan, 1 - Hutchinson, Wallace, FF
Dribbles: 4 - FF, 2 - Hunt, Lee, Bannan, 1 - Abdi, Hooper
Dispossessed: 4 - Nuhiu, 2 - Wallace, Hooper, 1 - Lees, Lee, FF
Bad Control: 6 - FF, 2 - Hunt, Lee, Bannan, Fletcher
Crosses (Accurate in brackets): 9 - Wallace (2), 4 - Pudil (2), FF (1), 3 - Lee (3), 2 - Hunt (0), Bannan (1), Nuhiu (0), 1 - Palmer (0)
Passing Accuracy (Total Passes in Brackets):
95% - Hutchinson (41), 93% - Abdi (43), 91% - Lee (34), 89% - Fletcher (9), 87% - Bannan (46), Hooper (15), 82% - Wallace (22), FF (33), 81% - Lees (41), 80% - Nuhiu (5), 78% - Pudil (23), 71% - Hunt (24), 67% - Palmer (3), 46% - Westwood (37)
We again showed our ability to win a tight match. The movement off the ball, particularly from Lee, Abdi, FF & Hooper was for me the difference. CC went for the win even when Villa were getting on top and that attitude will help us get where we want to be.
29 more wins & we are promoted.
Would also add that the atmosphere was good although that is hardly surprising in an opening match against a team that has dropped out of the PL. The band kept the tunes flowing & the North Stand boys were magnificent. Let's hope we can continue this atmosphere when it really counts when we play Wigan & Bristol City because that is probably when fan support will be more important.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.