Villa blog: Super Marlon

What can I say? I was one of many Villa fans to have written off Marlon Harewood, but didn't he make a difference against Liverpool?

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If Torres had scored that overhead kick the national media would have been falling over themselves to praise him.

And Marlon deserves a lot of credit for the way he took the goal, injected some much needed urgency into our play, and rallied the troops when required.

I'm pleased for him, and I can only hope that was a sign of things to come.

He took a lot of stick for his part in the draw at White Hart Lane, but i'll have to take my comments back if he shows the same commitment, desire and ability in future.

Without the influence of Gareth Barry in midfield, I thought our perfomance was more disjointed than we've come to expect over the past few months.

Petrov and Reo-Coker in the middle didn't really gel and we struggled to keep the ball.

At the same time it's hard to be too critical when we've drawn at Anfield, a ground where we always struggle.

Cracks are starting to appear in the squad, with Barry out we have no full-back cover, Ashley Young will miss the Fulham away game through suspension, and Gabby Agbonlahor looks in need of a rest.

I really hope we are able to bring in two or three new faces before the transfer window closes, because that could be the difference between Europe and mid table.

As for the race for fourth place, I can't rule it out but it would take a massive effort from the players, probably a win in every remaining home game and at least a point at Goodison Park, with the odd win away from home picked up until May.

For now we can reflect on another job done, and enjoy a few replays of Super Marlon's super goal.

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