please log in to view this image After doing lots of exercise as well as losing weight, I felt I was getting to peak fitness in readiness for my hip operation on 24th January only to see someone fall down the terraces before the game, knocking me for six and getting injured on the seats below me. Maybe I should have gone to first aid as I was very shaken and close to tears but sat down until I felt a bit better. As I stood up, Villa scored! A big thank you to everyone around me for their concerns and support which were greatly appreciated. As much as I thought the sooner we get safe standing the better, the lad next to me said he got injured at Liverpool despite safe standing! Team: Meslier, Cooper, Ayling, Aaronson, Roca, Adams, Rodrigo, Gnonto, Koch, Harrison and Struijk. Subs: Bamford, for Harrison (66), Wöber for Struijk (66), Greenwood for Roca (77), Gelhardt For Aaronson (77), Firpo for Koch (88). Subs not used: Robles, Llorente, Perkins, Kristensen. Leeds lost the game 2-1 with Bamford scoring our goal after coming on as sub (83). Attendance, 42,008 With 2,999 Leeds fans. Referee: Michael Oliver. Booked: Koch, Meslier. With Somerville out for a month after getting injured at Cardiff, Harrison made a start today. As I stood up and Villa scored, the lads next to me told me to sit down again which was all in a bit of fun. I had to ask what had happened and it was the usual, we were caught up front and let Villa counterattack and score. I haven’t seen the goal as yet, but I thought that after only two minutes to be caught out so high up the pitch putting us on the back foot, it was far too early to be pushing forward so much. We always used to leave two players on the halfway line which still may not have helped, but we need to keep some form of defence. The number of times at corners that Meslier was on the halfway line was something else I didn’t like to see. Leeds took the game to Villa then and the Leeds fans were urging them on. Billy Bremner’s Barmy Army being the longest and loudest chant of the night. Leeds with Gnonto on fire with lots of play down the side in front of us to the opposite end, played really well. I was concerned to see him limping a few times though and he ended up with his leg bandaged. With him staying on the pitch all game, he took a lot of heavy knocks and I’d definitely rest him for Cardiff. Leeds thought they had equalised, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR check. With others saying we should have had two penalties, nothing was looking to be in our favour, despite lots of possession and attacking. I thought we were unlucky not to go in at half time on equal terms especially as their keeper made a fantastic save and we had another chance go wide. At half time, I Iost my rag good and proper with men coming into the ladies’ toilets. With lots of young girls in there plus broken locks on doors, we don’t need this to happen in the first place. There are never enough loos at away grounds anyway, so I shouted at them to get out and to go and use their own loos. Despite protestations that they needed a wee, my angry head on, was enough to make them turn around and go. I got a few thank you comments from others for standing up for our safe space at football grounds. The second half saw no changes, but it took quite a while for us to get back to how we were playing before the break although we had a few chances. Gnonto coming close with a save from the keeper. The longer the game went on, I was worried that Villa would get a second goal before we made any changes. Sadly, despite Wöber and Bamford waiting on the side for ages to come on, Villa scored a second. When the referee gave a free kick to Leeds for offside, I thought thank goodness only to see VAR overrule him and give Villa the goal saying their player was onside. I was furious that Marsch hadn’t brought the subs on but the lads in front of me said he’d tried to, only to see himself booked for arguing. That said, he should have made the subs earlier than that to be honest. That knocked the stuffing out of us then and there only looked one winner on the night and it wasn’t us. Bamford did give us a lifeline when he pulled a goal back but realistically, we didn’t look like getting a draw in that second half which was very disappointing. With Villa time wasting especially their keeper, it took the referee until the latter minutes of the game to book him. With some fans starting to chant Marsch out, this started to get louder, and he faced a barrage of boos at the end of the game. I’ve seen plenty of fans clamouring for Dyche or Potter, but they aren’t for me. Although I don’t like a lot of what I’m seeing on the pitch, I also don’t want to jump out of the fat into the frying pan either. With lots of fans having a go at those who want Marsch out, I will always say that no matter how much you may disagree with others, they are still entitled to their opinions. It was concerning to hear afterwards that despite the high police presence, that Villa fans were attacking coaches in the car park with bottles and bricks after the game. With the Cardiff replay on Wednesday before our home game with Brentford next Sunday, it’s a case of seeing what happens next for me. See you then, LUFC - Marching on Together! please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
I hope your feeling a little less bruised and battered this morning Hedi What an addition Ghonto is. He's one hell of a player and prospect
I’ll bet it was worth the trip to see Gnonto. Oddly enough 24 hours later it doesn’t feel like a defeat. We’re a few weeks from about 50 traveling again so the buzz is building
Hi sorry for the late response but I was away yesterday and overnight having a spa day to celebrate my daughter's birthday. I'm please to say that things are better than I dared hope they would be. Although sore, all healing nicely and not too much pain. Gnonto is a brilliant prospect but we'll have to be careful he doesn't get battered so much he ends up out for ages. I was going to say with Summerville as long as he keeps injury free we've a chance of these two building a great partnership and now he's out for a month.
My coping mechanism is that I forget very quickly how bad things can be and it's how I can move on to the next game. It's when I can't forget that you know we are in serious trouble. Good to hear you are getting over for a game.
