Match Review: Aston Villa 1-1 Leicester City

Everyone was in the same boat on this one.

We expected 0 points, but had a slither of hope we might just pick up an unexpected 3.

We got something in between.

And considering we got that against supposed 'title contenders', I'd say we can be happy. 

Not to say that Leicester turned up looking like table toppers - both teams put in a sloppy, physical display - and ignoring the first 25 minutes ours was actually superior.

We genuinely looked like threatening their goal, and if Jordan Veretout knew how to hit a ball further than the first man from a set piece, or if Ayew knew how to deliver a decent ball after beating his man, we easily could have got more from the game.

But that's what it boiled down to, a game of 'ifs'.

'If' Bunn hadn't saved the penalty; 'if' we didn't have goal-line technology; 'if' the ref had seen Huth swing at Libor; or 'if' Okore hadn't let the ball bounce for the goal, the game would have been totally different.

That's probably more a reflection of football itself than this one-off game, but when there's so many incidents that could have gone either way - a point is probably a fair result. 

Garde's decision to stick with the bold shake-up in the team sheet against Palace was a relief, and my faith in the Frenchmen is slowly growing every week. I found myself not questioning his decision to swap Gil for Gestede after an hour, a sub that would sparked a wave of disgust around the ground had Lambert or Sherwood made it, and it certainly payed dividends as Rudy ultimately found the back of the net (just about).

On a side note, I also finally saw how Leicester have gotten to where they have.

They have somehow managed to combine two of the best teams from 2008 to create a weird hybrid that nobody's quite sure how to play.

They have the incredibly fast pressing when out of possession, whilst hunting in packs of 2 and 3, that is genuinely reminiscent of Guardiola's Barcelona (don't laugh), mixed with the thuggish, in-your-face backbone of Tony Pulis' Stoke team, with players like Huth and Vardy, who have no problem at all swinging for players and pressuring officials. 

This is why they can turn up against 'elite' teams and compete - there's no fear.

But enough about their lot.

We're certainly showing there's some fight left in us, and if we are to have any hope at all of turning our season around, 4 points every 2 games is a good target to start from.

Focus must now shift to our next 3 league games. 

Albion away, West Ham away, and Norwich at home.

7 points is possible, and must be our target going into these games.

It's The Hope That Kills Ya'

El Chapo's been caught, Bowie's dead, and Aston Villa Football Club have won a game of association football.

It's been a weird week. 

I haven't written anything since September 1st, and to be honest it's because there's been very little to write about that hasn't already been said. 

When the only thing you can say about a game is "we were shit and deserved to lose", and hundreds of people are saying the exact same thing, every week, then there's little point in putting pen to paper and adding a drop to the ocean.

But last night against Palace - for the first time in months - Villa stirred and showed signs of life. 

We were controlling, attacking, and didn't panic while trying to hold a lead, very different to everything we've come to expect from what I can comfortably say is the worst Villa side I've ever seen.

Can we attribute this to Remi Garde?

In fairness, who'd have thought that playing a 'proper' centre forward - who can play a bit and has been tearing up the u21's - up front in Libor Kozak would improve our fortunes?

All of us, for months and months.

But at least Remi's finally seeming to get the picture. There's more to our side than just 'lump it to Rudy' and it's seeming like it might be finally starting to show. Players like Kozak and Gil who have been mercilessly overlooked in recent times not only have something to offer the team, but are perhaps people we should be looking to build the team around.

He's also showed that he has the ability to lay down authority when needed - something massively needed when you're trying to run through treacle like we are right now.

Somewhere between punishing Grealish for his unprofessionalism; finally dropping Guzan; and his straight-talking press conferences, Garde proved on Tuesday that the team still has spirit and are willing to fight for him - shown undoubtedly through the tireless, industrious display from the midfield 3 and the celebrations after the final whistle. 

Anyone who's been a Villa fan for longer than 6 months (and I can't imagine we've picked up many glory hunters in that time frame) will know that these 'turned the corner' displays often come to an abrupt halt 90 minutes later.

Saying that, me and my old man had agreed we wouldn't return to B6 until we thought the team could compete, and we've got tickets for Saturday.

It's the hope that kills ya'.