Aston Villa, Season 2018-2019

EFL1 (Championship), Saturday 02/03/2019 : Aston Villa 4-0 Derby County

At last a win, against what has been a leading side too.
Let this be the start of a winning run for AVFC ... we certainly need it !
That excellent volley from Jack Grealish sealed the double over Derby County.
AVFC are 11th, 6 points off 6th place, but count that as 9 points with the game in hand above.

Attendance : 37,273 (SSN)

After this result AVFC's total Form Points rose from 61 to 63 ... that is, points after 46 games.
The maximum available remains 81 points, with 33 points left to play for.
AVFC stay above par and are 11th in the table, with 48 points and GD at +8 from 35 games.

 

EFL1 (Championship), Sunday 10/03/2019 : Birmingham City v Aston Villa, KO 12:00 hours, SKY.

04/03/2019 : Another double opportunity for AVFC on Sunday, which will put us above the Dummies too.

I am backing AVFC to continue the good work against Derby and achieve double number 3.

My AVF prediction, made today : Birmingham City 1-3 Aston Villa

 

EFL1 (Championship), Sunday 10/03/2019 : Birmingham City 0-1 Aston Villa

Double number 3 and job done, well done lads, especially Jack Grealish, for making football the winner today. I overslept today and had to catch up with the 1st half at half-time !
Let AVFC's final 10 games see the winning run that will take AVFC into the play-offs and maybe, just maybe, one of the automatic spots. We are currently 9th and 4 points off 6th place.

Attendance : 26,631 (SSN)

After this result AVFC's total Form Points rose from 63 to 65 ... that is, points after 46 games.
The maximum available remains 81 points, with 30 points left to play for.
AVFC stay above par and are 9th in the table, with 51 points and GD at +9 from 36 games.

 

11/03/2019 : The assailant has been given 14 weeks in gaol and fined £350, £100 of which is compensation to Jack Grealish.
Two things come to my mind from this, Equity and Reaction.
Equity exists to ensure similar crimes get similar sentences. The 14 weeks given here is way below what should have been given, when the attack on Enkelman is considered for comparison.
Reaction goes the other way.
To my mind whereas the condemnation is understood, the 'something must be done' mantra can only lead to bad law. How would fans be stopped from encroaching on the pitch ... fences ?
One answer to that option ... Hillsborough.
Then there are justice and fairness. Are we to see the overwhelming majority of fans and the clubs they support penalised due to the misbehavior of the odd individual ?
How happy would we as AVFC fans be if Villa Park was closed because one idiot (claiming to be a 'Fan' of AVFC) misbehaved as that Bluenose twat did on Sunday ?
The many must not be penalised in order to provide an answer to the 'something must be done' clamour.
We are all responsible for our actions. If the Sunday incident had occurred in a shopping centre, I doubt if the shopping centre would be closed to customers on account of it.

BBC - Jack Grealish: Birmingham City fan jailed for pitch attack

 

EFL1 (Championship), Wednesday 13/03/2019 : Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa, KO 19:45 hours, SKY.

12/03/2019 : Despite the indifferent results of the last 10 games, W 3, D 4, L 3, the run-in still provides the opportunity for AVFC to get a play-off spot and maybe even an automatic promotion spot ... last day drama ?

Aston Villa's final 10 matches, AVFC are 9th in the Table.
Showing our opponents' League positions as at 12/03/2019.
Mar 13 Wed A 37 Nottm Forest. 8th
Mar 16 SAT H 38 Middlesbro... 5th
Mar 30 SAT H 39 Blackburn... 17th
Apr 06 SAT A 40 Sheff Wed... 14th
Apr 10 Wed A 41 Rotherham... 22nd
Apr 13 SAT H 42 Bristol City. 7th
Apr 19 Fri A 43 Bolton Wndrs 23rd
Apr 22 Mon H 44 Millwall.... 21st
Apr 27 SAT A 45 Leeds Utd.... 2nd
May 05 SUN H 46 Norwich City. 1st

We will have to win our games though, the most we have won consecutively so far this Season is 3 games.

Oct 26 Fri A 15 Q P Rangers. 0-1 L
Nov 02 Fri H 16 Bolton Wndrs 2-0 W
Nov 10 SAT A 17 Derby County 3-0 W
Nov 25 SUN H 18 Birmingham.. 4-2 W
Nov 28 Wed H 19 Nottm Forest 5-5 D

Currently the winning run is 2 games, there is a long way to go, but we have the opportunity to achieve promotion this Season. The immediate task is to beat and overtake Nottingham Forest, who are 2 points ahead of AVFC.

My AVF prediction, made today : Nottingham Forest 1-2 Aston Villa

 

13/03/2019 : This link may not work, beware too of any redirects and/or download offers.

Stream link, KO 19:45 hours : Feed2All - Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa

We also have the SSN S0ccer Special for the goals 'as they go in' this evening.

 

EFL1 (Championship), Wednesday 13/03/2019 : Nottingham Forest 1-3 Aston Villa

Three goals tonight to give AVFC three wins in a row for the second time this Season, well done lads.
AVFC are 8th with 54 points, 2 points off 6th placed Derby after 37 games for both teams.
Next up are Middlesbrough, who are 5th with 58 points, which provides another opportunity to close a gap.

Attendance : 29,224 (SSN)

After this result AVFC's total Form Points rose from 65 to 67 ... that is, points after 46 games.
The maximum available remains 81 points, with 27 points left to play for.
AVFC stay above par and are 8th in the table, with 54 points and GD at +11 from 37 games.

 

EFL1 (Championship), Saturday 16/03/2019 : Aston Villa v Middlesbrough, KO 15:00 hours.

14/03/2019 : This is another potential double for AVFC on Saturday. It has the more important bonus that a win will directly reduce the gap between AVFC and one of our rivals for a play-off spot to 1 point.

My AVF prediction, made today : Aston Villa 3-0 Middlesbrough

 

EFL1 (Championship), Saturday 16/03/2019 : Aston Villa 3-0 Middlesbrough

AVFC up to 6th and earlier than I expected. Our splendid result today has been augmented by favourable results elsewhere, no complaints about that. Four consecutive wins and Double number 4 achieved too, well done lads.

Attendance : 36,263 (SSN)

After this result AVFC's total Form Points rose from 67 to 69 ... that is, points after 46 games.
The maximum available remains 81 points, with 24 points left to play for.
AVFC stay above par and are 6th in the table, with 57 points and GD at +14 from 38 games.

 

EFL1 (Championship), Saturday 30/03/2019 : Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers, KO 15:00 hours.

23/03/2019 : Saturday feels empty without the football, the lack of which is an unwelcome disruption to the routine. With a week to wait before our game, one might as well go shopping !!!

Looking at the table the teams who could overtake us, due to games in hand, are Derby County, played 37 with 56 points and Bristol City, played 36 with 55 points. However, we can see off Bristol City and they will be playing Derby when we are at Leeds Utd. AVFC's strategic focus should be on who is above and ahead of us, rather than on who is below and behind. Looking up, there is a 10 point gap between AVFC and West Bromwich Albion, who are 4th with 67 points after 38 games.
One game at a time though, Blackburn Rovers are the immediate priority and I hope we will see a 5th consecutive win for AVFC next Saturday.

My AVF prediction, made today : Aston Villa 3-1 Blackburn Rovers

 

EFL1 (Championship), Saturday 30/03/2019 : Aston Villa 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

Five wins in a row and AVFC up to 5th, pending the result of the late game today. Well done again to the lads, especially John McGinn, it was job done today. Other results elsewhere means there is no change vis-a-vis our game-in-hand chasers.

Attendance : 39,687 (SSN)

After this result AVFC's total Form Points rose from 69 to 71 ... that is, points after 46 games.
The maximum available remains 81 points, with 21 points left to play for.
AVFC stay above par and are 5th in the table, with 60 points and GD at +15 from 39 games.

 

EFL1 (Championship), Saturday 06/04/2019 : Sheffield Wednesday v Aston Villa, KO 15:00 hours.

01/04/2019 : This is one of AVFC's anti-doubles and the best way to avoid it will be a 6th consecutive win ... which is what needs to be done anyway, to help consolidate a play-off place.
Ahead of our visit to Mr Bruce and Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City, who could overtake AVFC due to their game in hand, play Middlesbrough tomorrow night.

04/04/2019 : Bristol City beat Middlesbrough 1-0, so AVFC are 6th atm.

My AVF prediction, made today : Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Aston Villa

 

05/04/2019 : Latest AVFC games on SKY :

Wed 10th April : Rotherham United 19:45 Aston Villa - Red Button

Mon 22nd April : Aston Villa 13:00 Millwall - Red Button

Sunday April 28th : Leeds United 12:00 Aston Villa - SKY

 

EFL1 (Championship), Saturday 06/04/2019 : Sheffield Wednesday 1-3 Aston Villa

AVFC avoided the anti-double in style with our 6th consecutive win today. This excellent result has been augmented by helpful results elsewhere, meaning that AVFC are 5th, ahead of Bristol City by one point and Derby County by 3 points, with a superior GD to both. We are also 5 points ahead of Middlesbrough (8th) and are now just 7 points behind 4th placed Albion.

Attendance : 29,458 (SSN)

After this result AVFC's total Form Points rose from 71 to 72 ... that is, points after 46 games.
The maximum available remains 81 points, with 18 points left to play for.
AVFC stay above par and are 5th in the table, with 63 points and GD at +17 from 40 games.

 

EFL1 (Championship), Wednesday 10/04/2019 : Rotherham United v Aston Villa, KO 19:45 hours.

07/04/2019 : This match is another potential double for AVFC and I will be really peeved if it is not achieved.

My AVF Prediction, made today (09/04/2019) : Rotherham United 1-2 Aston Villa

 

EFL1 (Championship), Wednesday 10/04/2019 : Rotherham United 1-2 Aston Villa

Seven consecutive wins and double number 5 for AVFC tonight. We were a bit under the cosh, especially going down to 10 men with Mings sent off and conceding the penalty, but weathered the storm to come out on top. Jack Grealish scored the winner with an excellent team goal to seal it. Well done, lads.
AVFC regain 5th place with 66 points, 4 behind Albion (4th), 5 ahead of Middlesbrough (7th) and 6 ahead of Derby (8th).
Per the SSN Live Commentary the attempts (including goals) were 5-9 & 7-6 = 12-15 against AVFC - the cosh !

Attendance : 10,558 (SSN)

After this result AVFC's total Form Points rose from 72 to 74 ... that is, points after 46 games.
The maximum available remains 81 points, with 15 points left to play for.
AVFC stay above par and are 5th in the table, with 66 points and GD at +18 from 41 games.

 

EFL1 (Championship), Saturday 13/04/2019 : Aston Villa v Bristol City, KO 15:00 hours.

11/04/2019 : This match provides the opportunity for AVFC to go 4 points clear of Bristol City and negate the advantage they have of their game in hand. Victory on Saturday would be the AVFC's 8th consecutive League win, which was last achieved in 1974-1975, when AVFC under Ron Saunders won promotion to Division One and ended 9 Seasons outside the top level.

My AVF prediction, made today (13/04/2019) : Aston Villa 2-1 Bristol City

 

EFL1 (Championship), Saturday 13/04/2019 : Aston Villa 2-1 Bristol City

With the news that Jack Grealish was out due to illness, Twitter was full of doomsayers. Fortunately they have been confounded and AVFC win 8 in a row. More importantly, this win has put 4 points between us and Bristol City.
Per the SSN Live Commentary the attempts (including goals) were 8-4 & 15-7 = 23-11 to AVFC.

Attendance : 41,418 (SSN)

After this result AVFC's total Form Points rose from 74 to 76 ... that is, points after 46 games.
The maximum available remains 81 points, with 12 points left to play for.
AVFC stay above par and are 5th in the table, with 69 points and GD at +19 from 42 games.

 

EFL1 (Championship), Friday 19/04/2019 : Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa, KO 15:00 hours.

14/04/2019 : This game is AVFC's last potential double and the chance to win 9 consecutive League games too. This was last achieved in Season 1910-1911 ... it has been a long wait for another 9 in a row, so let us see it happen !

My AVF prediction, made today (15/04/2019) : Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Aston Villa - It might be a tighter game than many think.

 

19/04/2019 : This link may not work, beware too of any redirects and/or download offers.

Stream link, KO 15:00 hours : Feed2All - Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa