Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Villa Fans After Record 10th Home Defeat

Destiny, Targets and Fulham’s Potential Relegation

Some how last week I knew I would be writing this after another Villa loss. The fact that such defeats are becoming predictable against teams in the lower echelons of the league is becoming worryingly predictable. Only one point better off from this time last season and two points down on games against the same opponents, Villa seemed to have wasted a season. Little has been built on the foundations laid last season. Worse than that, Villa have recorded a record-breaking 10 home league defeats in a season (and teams play a lower amount of home games nowadays). The impressive win against Chelsea (although Palace managed it too) seems a world away. Lambert now has six games to show there are least some signs of potential for Villa under his guidance. As always, we try and find reasons to be cheerful as Villa fans…

1. Marc Albrighton’s effort and endeavor went along way to making this match watchable. Highlights included a 40-yard peach of a pass and the fact he seemed to be covering the ground of two players. He was an example to all his teammates. He for one deserves a new contract and I wouldn’t expect it to dent his endeavor like it seemed to do with some of his teammates when they were granted theirs in the summer.

2. He had three home games left to do it, but he nailed in the first game. Holt scored in the Holte End. Despite his detractors, Holt also put in a decent shift that was full of heart. Maybe he’s not the ideal guy to have up top for a Premier League team at the moment, but he may be the best Villa have got, if he gives it 100%. It will be interesting to see if the expected return of Gabby next week, will see Holt retain his place against Palace.

3. Villa have played worse and won. Despite missing a host of key players, it was a decent enough performance, but the same old school boy errors (notably some criminal distribution from the back four) was perhaps always going to undo them in the end.

4. Tonev got a shot on target. Joking aside, even with the midfield ravaged by injuries, the fact he didn’t make the starting line-up suggests he hasn’t been the most successful of buys. Surely in the final six games, he should get a chance to at least prove himself?

5. Fulham are still odds on to get relegated and considering they did the double over us this season, that’s a positive come next season, as we can only improve on the points haul against the team that replaces them (as long as Villa don’t completely bottle the rest of the season and get relegated themselves!).

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