aston villa 2 v leicester city 1 - love you arthur

 

We came, we saw. Villa scored twice, perhaps three times. But the real star wasn't with us. He was shining in the firmament. We stood as one on the sixth minute, fans united for you.

 

Rest in peace, Arthur Labingo-Hughes. We love you. And for all those who feel unloved, we love you too. You are not alone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

aston villa 2 v 1 leicester

Wow, is this really happening?!!!

It's a cold, damp Tuesday evening at Villa Park.  What better way to celebrate my birthday than to watch the plucky boys in claret and blue succumb to yet another kicking at the feet of Leicester City.  Just few weeks ago they tore us to shreds in the Premier League and now we face them again in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.

Coming into the match, honours are even. A creditable one-all draw at the King Power Stadium sees the tie finely balanced.

Leicester are off to a flying start, yet second-string keeper, Orjan Nyland, pulls off a string of astounding saves to keep us in the game. Cue Captain Jack Grealish, who gets on the end of a pass from Douglas Luiz and casually flicks the ball to a marauding Matt Targett. He makes no mistake and it's one nil to Villa.

Villa resist mounting pressure for the rest of the first-half and the start of the second until Harvey Barnes bursts past Frédéric Guilbert on the left-hand side of the box. He sends the ball across the face of goal and Kelechi Iheanacho arrives at the back post to flick it into the net. It's one all and everything to play for.

As the game-clock ticks down the prospect of a shoot-out penalty competition beckons, but Villa aren't done yet.  Our two Egyptian players, Ahmed Elmohamady and Trezeguet, link up for a fine second goal which leaves the Leicester City defence in tatters and their supporters in tears.

It's ASTON VILLA ... and onward to the final!!!

aston villa 1 v 4 leicester city

The food was wonderful, courtesy of the Digbeth Dining Club.  We loved the music, the Heavy Beat Brass Band.  Christmas presents were bought in the Villa shop.  There were celebratory rainbow shoe laces and sugar-free coke hand-outs.

But, oh ... the football.