I had a funny feeling the Spurs result would be better than the QPR result, after Benteke rescued a point with his late equaliser at Villa Park. But like most Villans, I was left scratching my head when I saw the Villa team sheet for White Hart Lane that showed Sherwood had plumped for the same back four. Strangely, Brad Guzan was rarely tested and those not at the game could happily switch over to the Grand National to see if their horse/s had come in (one of my two came in 4th, so a profit was made), safe in the knowledge that Spurs were likely to be goalless when they returned their attention to the game.
It wasn’t all plain sailing though with Gabby coming off injured and Sanchez picking up a red card that means he’ll miss the semi-final.
Still, we’re six points above the drop zone and now can fully concentrate on our date at Wembley…
In the meantime, here’s five reasons to be cheerful as Aston Villa fans…
1. Beast
After suggesting in the last Five Reasons Christian Benteke was going through the gears and getting back to his best, a hat-trick against QPR and a winner against Spurs sees him fully charged up to ‘Beast Mode’ for Villa’s Wembley trip and the remaining league fixtures. He’s bagged eight goals in the last six games and you get the feeling there’s even more to come. A hat-trick at Wembley please Christian!
2. Second to None
Sherwood’s Win Ratio at White Hart Lane is much better this season – 100%
3. A Point to Better Things
While the QPR result was ultimately depressing (although better than it could have been), grabbing that equaliser set up the momentum for the performance at White Hart Lane. Also, that point meant Villa were no longer the team with the worst home record this season, as it moved them off the bottom of the home form table above Leicester.
Villa have actually managed more home wins in the FA Cup than in 16 attempts in the league. Luckily, at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals, we will be classed as the home team again and play in claret and blue.
4. Rest Days
Speaking of Wembley, Villa’s opponents in the FA Cup semi-final Liverpool will play Newcastle on Monday night, meaning Villa get an extra couple of days rest. Also, if Liverpool do pick up any injuries or knocks against the Toon, they’ll be little recovery time. Every little advantage helps.
5. Finally a Villa Day Out to Relish
This is MOMS fourth season, but I for one feel during this time we’ve been battling adversity most of the time (as we have been doing again for most of this season). Even when we previously had an easy route to Wembley, Villa threw it away against Bradford, but now we have a day at the national stadium to put ourselves back on the map and have an occasion we can all enjoy.
But we’re going to Wembley to WIN.
Don’t even get in that coach, train or car, if you don’t believe Villa can triumph next Sunday in London. That Spurs result will give us a boost, Benteke is now red hot, the team is playing with more conviction and our recent away record against Liverpool has been excellent, producing some of our best performances in recent years. The stars have kind of aligned for this. Now if we could just also have a little luck with injuries in the next week…
Sing your hearts out and give it maximum claret and blue power, and lets book another date in the capital in May, where we can all have a few drinks to hopefully close the book on the last few seasons which have been a nightmarish chapter in the club’s history.
UTV.
Follow MOMS on Twitter – @oldmansaid
So Sanchez out, Gabby & Clark injured if Gil’s fit, he really deserves a start, I suspect Zoggy will be in though. That’s OK as long as he gives his all. If Hutton returns Bacuna should move into midfield. We’ve got excellent centre half cover, no worries there. Good to see that Cleverly has improved. Its being to look like the team have self belief. I didn’t expect them to win at Spurs, but we made them look ordinary. All that money they squandered from sale of Christian Bale, while Villa were buying on the cheap. Makes you wonder!
I also scratched my head pre game, that might have been more to do with wearing a cap few a few hours when out, but I couldn’t understand why Richardson was still in there after his shocker in the week.
He wasn’t much better yesterday, but I’m not manager, and TS must see something we don’t, I do trust his judgment way, WAY, more than Lambert’s, so I’ll stfu.
But the long dark tunnel has a light at the and of it, and it’s getting closer. Happy days UTV
Yesterday’s MOTM will miss one game.
the whole 18 strong squad for Spurs was identical to that for QPR. Sherwood has decided that these are the 18 that are up for the fight, and he looks into their eyes. Seems to be working.
Clark as well as Gabby was injured, so with Sanchez suspended he will have to make changes. Personally it is still midfield that bothers me, and if Sanchez can’t come back for the Prem game at Man City (is it one match or more he is suspended) I would worry about the defensive frailty in midfield. But we will have Cissokho back training, so that is one more defender to add to the group
This is the tightest relegation struggle for years. Fingers crossed for the games in April. It would be bad news to go to the final match against Burnley needing points
trevor fisher.,
massive three points yesterday, and personaly I’m not waiting for the final to have a few drinks, I’m on it as soon as I sit down on the train