the agony and the ecstacy

 

 

What a start!!!

 

Leon Bailey hits the bar and then just eight minutes into the game Jacob Ramsay cuts in again from the left. A beautifully weighted pass finds Player of the Season, Douglas Luiz unmarked. He strokes the ball coolly into the back of the net and Villa are one nil up.

 

Eighteen minutes later, after two tenacious tackles in a row, John McGinn sets Jacob Ramsay racing down the same left-hand side. He draws the Brighton keeper then passes to Ollie Watkins for a tap-in. What a dream!

 

Reality hits towards the end of the first half. After having a goal disallowed by VAR the tables are turned when Brighton pull one back against the run of the play. This game is far from won.

 

Brighton start the second half strongly and Villa find themselves on the back foot. But then, slowly but surely, they begin to re-establish control of the game. We endure six nail-biting minutes of extra-time before the ball goes to McGinn who takes it to the corner-flag. The referee blows and it's all over ... we've done it, Villa are back in Europe!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

aston villa 2 v 0 norwich city

 

I love everything Norwich City F.C. stand for. They have fantastic owners who care deeply about the club. Not as an investment or a brand, but as true supporters. Their home ground is great and their fans amazing. Despite the ups and downs of their team they continue to follow them throughout the years.

 

All this stands in sharp contrast to the rest of the Premiership where money  rules.

 

So whilst it's pleasing to watch the Villa return to winning ways courtesy of goals from Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings it's sad to see Norwich consigned to yet another relegation. I hope they're back soon. The Premiership needs clubs like Norwich to remind us what football is about.

 

 

 

 

aston villa 2 v wolves 3