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!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

the stage is set

 

We arrive at Villa Park two and a half hours early and the place is already rammed and buzzing. It's the last game of the season and what a way to end.

 

After a terrible start under Stephen Gerrard the Villa owners take decisive action. Unai Emery is appointed as Head Coach at the end of October and the turn-around begins. From languishing just above the relegation zone we now have the chance to qualify for European football. Our destiny is in our hands. If we beat Brighton today we secure that last European spot.

 

The mood is expectant.  

 

 

 

faces in the crowd

 

 

I'm an inveterate people-watcher and I love to see the expressions and gestures supporters make at football matches. The glorious game provides an excuse to let go and celebrate joyously ... or not, depending on the result.

 

It's a privilege to be part of the crowd and many of the supporters I photograph I've stood beside for many years. That doesn't stop me enjoying each new game though, there's always another picture to be taken.

 

 

 

 

aston villa 0 v west ham 1

 

It's a scorching hot summer afternoon at Villa Park. Everyone's up for the game, buoyed by victory against Everton in our last home outing.

Our opponents today are West Ham, languishing toward the bottom of the table and yet to score a goal. The sun is shining and what can possible go wrong?

It happens in the 74th minute. A deflected shot from Pablo Fornals and the ball nestles in the back of the Villa goal.

Oh dear! It shouldn't have ended this way at all.