Brucey Bonus Time
When Reading’s last-gasp shot flew across the face of the Villa goal seconds after Villa had taken the lead with a last-minute penalty, it potentially (hopefully) signalled a change of fortune in Villa’s season. Cast your mind back to late Gollini clearances that have cruelly rebounded and led to opposition equalisers and you’ll know what I mean.
While it was a step up from the recent Wolves game, it wasn’t a convincing Villa performance by any means and there is a lot of work in terms of team bonding to do (which Di Matteo failed to start), but a new manager bounce and a confidence-boosting win should hopefully now propel Villa onwards and upwards.
The next step for Steve Bruce is to turn home draws into regular home wins, with the recent Wolves game showcasing what has been going wrong at Villa Park.
If they can follow-up victory at Reading with a home win against the only unbeaten away team in the Championship, Fulham, then the wheels of improvement will truly be in motion.
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Here’s five reasons to be cheerful as Villa fans…
5. Unbeaten at Home
Villa’s unbeaten home run continues after a draw against Wolves. At the moment, it may seem no big deal and it is very built on draws, yet, if draws turn into wins then it could potentially help provide a huge psychological plus for players.
Instead of switching off in the final minutes of games there will be a renewed focus to maintain the unbeaten run. It could provide a confidence booster as the season progresses.
Imagine going the whole season unbeaten and also getting promotion. Suddenly the statisticians might start saying things like “Villa unbeaten at home for a year”. It would certainly make a huge change from some of the things they’ve been saying in recent times.
Great away win against a good side. Still need midfield players that can take a game by the scruff of the neck and move forward. The squad’s short of an aggressive ball winner or two. January should put that right. Bruce is the right man at this time.