It seems that every team is facing a ‘must win’ game of sorts this weekend, ourselves included, writes Villa blogger Gregg Williams.
We may not be chasing a title or battling relegation, but there will be a big crowd at Villa Park all hoping that our last two games were just a blip, before we end the season with a winning streak.
If we want to have any chance of European qualification, I really think we need to win every home game from now until the end of the season, starting with Sunderland.
It was good to hear Martin O’Neill talking about the onus being on the players to lift the fans when it comes to the games at Villa Park, it certainly makes a change from what we were used to hearing from David O’Leary.
Personally I think that the fans should get behind the team from the off, and hopefully then the players respond by giving 100 per cent which keeps the momentum of the crowd going.
I have a feeling that Saturday is going to be one of those games where the fans are a little bit edgy to begin with, and early errors won’t make things any easier.
We have to play with plenty of conviction straight away, and take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Roy Keane will make sure the Sunderland players are up for this one and they won’t be easy to beat.
I really hope that our key players from earlier in the season, Barry, Carew, Agbonlahor, Laursen and Carson in particular, can recapture the form that earned them so many plaudits at the time.
I also pray that Craig Gardner is fit to play or I honestly have no idea who will play right back.
I’d probably go for Harewood and Carew up front from the start, with Gabby on the right, because too often recently we’ve found ourselves on the back foot and needed that line-up to get us back in the game.
If we can get our noses in front Sunderland will be forced to come at us and we can then use our excellent counter attacking play to hopefully put the game out of their reach.
I have to admit i’m nervous about this one, hopefully Martin and the boys can put us back in contention with a hugely important three points.
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