Match Day Thread Aston Villa FC v Sunderland AFC – Sunday 19th April 2026 - KO 14:00

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Your Prediction:

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Pure River Slut said:
I hate how we have to have a boo boy. Back your players, back your team. How good is it that we had a midfielder making a strong run on the back line late in the game. He could have not chipped it and it still got saved, he could have chipped it and the keeper hit the deck. Fine margins. Back Diarra. Back 09.
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you just know a certain someone that is no longer on here will be one of them, and probs would have something rather stupid like he should never play again etc
 
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Pure River Slut said:
I hate how we have to have a boo boy. Back your players, back your team. How good is it that we had a midfielder making a strong run on the back line late in the game. He could have not chipped it and it still got saved, he could have chipped it and the keeper hit the deck. Fine margins. Back Diarra. Back 09f
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Or just accept it was a world class save from one on the best keepers in the world... I thought we played like the first 10 games of the season a more open and have a go style .. which we can do because RLB has managed the season well.. Proud of my team we are a team no one likes to play ...
 
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Jme2 said:
Or just accept it was a world class save from one on the best keepers in the world... I thought we played like the first 10 games of the season a more open and have a go style .. which we can do because RLB has managed the season well.. Proud of my team we are a team no one likes to play ...
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It’s a long time since we had a player who’d even attempt these things …

… especially after running flat out for ninety minutes.

If you can’t try these things when the pressure is ‘off’ you never will.
 
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Pure River Slut said:
I hate how we have to have a boo boy. Back your players, back your team. How good is it that we had a midfielder making a strong run on the back line late in the game. He could have not chipped it and it still got saved, he could have chipped it and the keeper hit the deck. Fine margins. Back Diarra. Back 09.
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If that chip had been a few inches higher, it would have been a perfectly executed match winner. I just put it down to a brilliant stop by the keeper, who spread himself superbly and would have probably got a hand or foot to the ball had it been hit to the side of him.

Had Roefs pulled off that save, no one would even think of criticising the player for not scoring, sometimes you just have to give the keeper credit.
 
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Diarra is now showing what a player he is... He missed a great chance, isn't the first, won't be the last. I have a lot of faith in the lad. As for the game, I thought we showed how resilient this team is. Up against a top 4 team, flying in a European competition and if lady luck was on our side we maybe could have won that... But what a game. If I had one wish, please play our Best 11...this includes Ballard, for me one of the stand out defenders in the EPL this season
 
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flandersmackem said:
Diarra is now showing what a player he is... He missed a great chance, isn't the first, won't be the last. I have a lot of faith in the lad. As for the game, I thought we showed how resilient this team is. Up against a top 4 team, flying in a European competition and if lady luck was on our side we maybe could have won that... But what a game. If I had one wish, please play our Best 11...this includes Ballard, for me one of the stand out defenders in the EPL this season
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Yes.
There is loads more to come from Diarra, including goals. He's had a hard time getting up to speed with his injury and the AFCON, but he already looks a serious player to me .

We did VERY well to sign this lad.
 
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I have to say it was a great day out - even the most diehard Villa fans I spoke to were full of praise about us giving it a proper go...I`m less certain they would have been if Diarra had scored mind you!

I thought we were sloppier at the back than we have been almost all of the season - not the fault of any individual - don`t "they" say that you defend and attack as a team...

Of course you can pick out individual errors but collectively our lads came within inches of a really huge upset - Villa are, by any standards a top team this season...

By my reckoning we have taken a point off each of the top 5 and 3 of the team in 6th...not too shabby

Bounce back against Forest on Friday and all will be forgiven!

HTL
 
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Obviously its always crap to lose but looking at the positives, I think we have turned a corner in our attack. Its not perfect but we have managed to be dangerous over a run of games now. The final balls and finishes may not be there quite yet but I have a much better idea of how we are actually going to win games going forward across these next 5 matches and into next season. Big summer window coming up to strengthen.
 
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Let’s be positive and talk about the three cracking goals we scored against a very good team who are well established rather than talk about Diara’s miss which was unfortunate though Martinez is one of the best keepers in the world - keep the faith !
 
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Bigmackem said:
Let’s be positive and talk about the three cracking goals we scored against a very good team who are well established rather than talk about Diara’s miss which was unfortunate though Martinez is one of the best keepers in the world - keep the faith !
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You're right about those goals getting lost a bit - they were excellent. Rigg's composed and precise, Hume's finish possibly the best of the lot and Isidor saw Martinez slip and in the blink of an eye the ball was in the net.

Great play from Sadiki, Hume and Le Fee to set them up as well. Even a 3-3 draw would have given them the extra, and deserved, weight.
 
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