Aston Villa continue to build momentum with a point against local rivals

Ever since Steve Bruce was appointed as Aston Villa manager, the second city derby was the game both sets of fans had their eyes on. Before Sunday, Villa had started to gain momentum under Bruce, having won the last two against Reading and Fulham whilst Gary Rowett’s Birmingham City had lost two out of their last three. To give Birmingham City credit, up until recently they have been performing above expectations this season and Rowett has done a fine job on a limited budget, and on the flip side Villa have under performed up until Bruce’s arrival. With Villa having better players on paper, but Blues being a more settled team and playing at home, a point is a fair result, and I am sure Bruce will be more than content with the outcome upon returning to a club he spent the best part of ten years at as a player and manager.

Bruce coming to Aston Villa was definitely the safest appointment the board could have made, and so far its paying off. Villa are now unbeaten in 4, they look more solid as a defensive unit, are harder to breakdown and the players seem a lot more settled in their positions. A key component to the turnaround has been a shift from a two man midfield to a three man, which has benefited Sunday’s Man of the Match, Mile Jedinak. Having runners around him like Gary Gardner (who scored his first ever Villa goal on Sunday), Leandro Bacuna or Ashley Westwood has allowed Jedinak to do his job; make tackles, win headers and protect the back four. Villa’s new central defensive partnership of James Chester and Nathan Baker has flourished because of this and now Villa have conceded three goals in four games, and two were penalties. In a dogged second half against Birmingham, the home team had much more of the ball and looked far more threatening than Villa, but as Bruce organised his team so well, Villa comfortably held out for a point to continue the club’s unbeaten streak. This has been the change since Roberto Di Matteo’s departure; the late goals being conceded have completely stopped. In fact, there were 9 minutes of stoppage time and Villa didn’t really look like conceding a late goal, its clear that the mentality has changed and the players believe in their manager.

Personnel wise, Villa missed Leandro Bacuna on Sunday, who is a reformed character this season and Villa certainly need his driving runs forward, which give the attacks more energy. It was also slightly surprising to see Ashley Westwood continuing ahead of Aaron Tshibola, who since his late leveller against Newcastle in the last week of September, has found himself on the bench and didn’t even get a chance to play against his old club Reading two weeks ago. Gabby Agbonlahor has made a return to the 1st team squad, and it was even more surprising that he came on as a sub, was Bruce desperate to write a fairytale ending to the game? It seems like a strange decision and I am sure the young strikers like Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, who has been in fantastic form for the under 23′s has every right to be aggrieved. I don’t see a way back for Gabby, and we have enough senior strikers at the club, so youth should be given a chance.

Next up is Blackburn Rovers at home on Saturday, a game which Villa should win. Blackburn are struggling this season and their last game against Wolves was marked by protests over their performance this year. Villa will need to show far more attacking intent and Bruce will be looking for his third win in five games. UTV!