Good game to watch. Mostly Villa in the first half, we took control for good parts of the second. Clarke was more effective than Szomodics on the left, Ogbene was isolated on the right. We need to learn how to use him properly. Our left sided attacker benefits from Davis overlapping and generally causing problems down that side. Since Tuanzebe has been at RB, we've lost quite a bit of attacking flair down the right. Don't get me wrong, Axel has been terrific, but he's just not going to be as good going forward as Harry Clarke or Johnson. Ogbene is different to Burns. Wes can carry the ball and beat his full back with the ball. I've noticed Ogbene prefers to lay off, sprint in behind and then wants the pass back. If we are to get the best out of him, we need to use him that way and not just give him the ball and expect him to do a Burns, he needs support to play the one-two. I think Hutch can play in the 10 role but there's more he needs to learn about the position. The difference for him, and the reason he looks better out wide, is that he has less players to get passed from the wide position. Playing in that 10, you're going to be surrounded by bodies and he's just not savvy enough to deal with that much pressure yet. I thought he had a good game though, and his pressing was on point. Midfield duo were immense, Morsy lucky not to get carded again but he is still taking the ball in the right areas and shielding it well. Phillips is getting better. Delap was really good, took his goals with confidence but will be upset at the one saved by the goalies feet. One gripe I do have is that the Hirst sub came way too late. Liam had been slowing down for quite a while and I think if we could've got Hirst on earlier, we would've had a better chance of continuing that high press and forcing more mistakes. Delap still doesn't put the defence under pressure like Hirst does or force the same mistakes. Overall, happy with another point and a much more comfortable watch, showing that we are going in the right direction week by week.
