Match Day Thread Aston Villa 1 v 0 Swansea City

Aston Villa v. Swansea City

Competition - Sky Bet Championship
Date - 20 October 2018
Kick off - 3pm
Venue - Villa Park

Following their disappointing 2-3 home defeat at the hands of previously winless Ipswich Town, next up for Graham Potter’s Swans squad is a visit to Managerless Aston Villa.

In many respects, the defeat to Ipswich was surprising given that the Swans dominated large periods and could have been 2 or 3 up before Ipswich equalised. However, perhaps it was the day when the chickens finally came home to roost in respect of Potter’s tinkering ..... the decision to bench Mulder and continue with Nordfeldt was puzzling, whilst hooking Van der Hoorn, which seemed to work at first, proved costly as Ipswich won the game from a free header at a corner.

Aston Villa recently sacked manager Steve Bruce after winning only one of their previous nine Championship matches.

The 57-year-old, who was appointed two years ago, had been under increasing pressure from Villa supporters, with one fan throwing a cabbage at him before the 3-3 draw against Preston.

Bruce had led Villa to the Championship play-off final last season, which they lost to Fulham at Wembley.

Following Bruce’s dismissal, Kevin MacDonald was appointed caretaker manager and he took charge for the game at Millwall where, despite taking an early lead, Villa went down 2-1.

Former Swan loanee, Tammy Abraham gave MacDonald the perfect start to his third spell as Villa's temporary boss, cleverly steering home Conor Hourihane's free-kick on the volley after just seven minutes.

But the match then turned sour with Shane Ferguson and Tom Elliott earning victory for the Lions.

The Swans and Villa have played each other on 27 occasions, with the Swans winning 9, Villa 15 and 3 draws.

In fact, the Swans’ recent record against Villa is pretty impressive, unbeaten in 7, and winning each of the last 5 matches.

Without doubt, Swansea’s most memorable match at Villa Park took place in the 1963/64 season.

On the 14th March Swansea Town, as we were then, travelled up to Villa Park to match their wits against fellow Second Division Team Preston North End. Thirty thousand high-spirited supporters joined the team on their journey to the Midlands, many confident of a Welsh victory having witnessed a 5 – 1 thrashing of Preston at the Vetch earlier in the season.

However, it was not to be, as the Swans went down 2-1, despite taking the lead via a Jimmy MacLaughlin goal.

Turning back to the forthcoming match against Villa, much will depend on the side that Potter selects, as well as whether Villa will have made a permanent managerial appointment. With respect to the latter, there has been press speculation that Thierry Henry and John Terry will be appointed as Manager and Assistant respectively.

If Villa remain managerless, I expect the Swans will collect a point in a 1-1 draw (Tammy to score - they all do against us...). If Villa have a new Manager in place, the. I fear that they will rise to the occasion and beat us 2-1.

 

Hoping for a 1-1 draw

 

Sold out

 

Is it? **** it!!

 

14 restricted view seats left.....Don't waste your money.....

 

Brilliant.
Well done all

 

Yes and before you ask yes

 

A point here would be a huge result. Especially after the Ipswich game.

 

I was looking on Monday and they had restricted seats and thought bugger it, then went to book these today!! Bollox.

 

So Villa have appointed Dean Smith & John Terry.

Per the BBC:

“Aston Villa have named Dean Smith as their new head coach, with ex-Chelsea defender John Terry as his assistant.

Smith, 47, leaves Brentford, who he led to top-10 finishes in the Championship in each of his three seasons as boss.

Former England captain Terry, 37 retired on Sunday after leaving Villa in the summer, while Jesus Garcia Pitarch joins as sporting director.

Villa sacked Steve Bruce on 3 October after a run of one win in nine Championship games.

Former centre-back Smith - whose first managerial role was with Walsall - is a lifelong Villa fan and joins from a Brentford side who are three points and eight places above them in the table.

Terry earned 78 England caps, won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and a Champions League title in his time at Stamford Bridge before leaving in 2017 after two decades at the London club.

Pitarch has been director of football at Spanish sides Valencia and Atletico Madrid, helping both sides win the Europa League.

"Dean has a clear and successful coaching philosophy as well as a real understanding of Aston Villa Football Club. He is also knowledgeable about the Championship," said Villa CEO Christian Purslow.

"John is one of the most decorated players in English football, has an affinity with the club and is ready to make the next step in his career working alongside Dean."

Villa had to identify other candidates to replace Bruce after their initial choices; Thierry Henry, Brendan Rodgers and former Manchester United assistant Rui Faria all ruled themselves out of contention.”

 

Hoping for a win here - Villa aren't that great really. However we'll probably lose 2-0 with goals from Tammy Abraham and Neil Taylor.

 

2750 tickets bought and we've asked for more

1-2 to the Swans.

 

Sir Doug Ellis, the former Villa Chairman, has passed away aged 94. RIP

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45823730

 

That’s a cracking showing, must keep an eye out if more go on sale.

 

Dean Smith is a very good manager and have made Brentford a very hard team to play against and i'm surprised he has left them to join a lesser team on form Aston Villa. I know Villa have a great history but they have done nothing for decades and you cant rely on the big name these days as you only have to see the names of once great clubs in the lower leagues.....So i'm puzzled by Deans move......I am hoping we catch him cold and get a win but i think i will be happy with a draw..0 - 0.

 

He’s a Villa fan

 

Villa will be up for this, new manager and will dedicate the game to their belated chairman. Tough time to play them

 

I am joined at the hip to the City of Birmingham, and I can attest to the fact that Aston Villa, or ' The Villa ', as they are known locally, are the biggest Club in the Midlands, even when they are in the Lower Leagues.
Nobody ever talks about Birmingham City, Wolves, or West Brom. It's ' The Villa ' all the way. Their history dictates their standing, and one day they will return to the top table.
Tough game for The Swans' due to new Manager syndrome, etc., and I expect ' The Villa ' to sneak it.
Almost 3,000 Swans' fans will swell what will be a big crowd.
From memory, Villa Park is not a happy hunting ground for The Swans'.

 

We’ve a decent record against them!! Beat them 2-1 last time then a draw the year before .

 

I was thinking more long term, but don't have any real stats to hand.