Villa blog: Loving the goal fest

Ten goals in two games, without conceding, is pretty impressive stuff against any standard of opposition, writes Villa blogger Gregg Williams.

Sure Derby are the worst team in the league, and Bolton aren’t much better, but even so, confidence will have been greatly lifted by such convincing wins over those sides. What a goal by Petrov! Putting his wonder strike aside for a minute, I think he’s been excellent in the last two games and the balance of the team is so much better with him in midfield.

We retain possession much more with him playing alongside Barry, and by having more of the ball we are able to threaten more often and keep the pressure off our defence. He seems to be a  confidence player, and after getting a standing ovation when he left the field against Bolton, and now with his goal at the weekend behind him, he must be feeling a lot happier than this time last month.

How I would love to see him score on Sunday, in such a big game as the derby. It would be his first goal at Villa Park, and what a time it would be to get it.

I’m looking at the league table thinking there is still a chance of finishing 5th. The team seems to have found their second wind, just in the nick of time.

We have to beat the Blues, and then it could be a real showdown at Goodison Park.

We could do with Chelsea beating Everton on Thursday first, which would really pile the pressure on them.

Even if we only make the Intertoto, there have been enough signs in the last two games to suggest we have the makings of a good team when playing with this system.

Ashley Young could be even more of a handful next season in a free role, and with Barry and Petrov pulling the strings in midfield, alongside a few fresh faces, I am starting to believe we could lead a major campaign to break the top four next season.