United – I am stunned. For 80 minutes we were excellent and deserved to have a comfortable lead. We scored three goals on the road, could have had more and Henderson only had one save to make. We played some super stuff for the first 25 minutes and looked a top, top side. We were excellent and looked all the world like a promotion side. We scored a good goal and looked so confident and Villa could not live with us. They came back a bit but did not have any clear chances just a few crosses that came across. United had been the far better side. Villa did come a bit 2nd half but the 2nd goal although controversial was crucial and then the 3rd game. That should have been good night. For the next 20 we were fine and did what we had to. Villa had gone.
Then Henderson makes a mistake. I said as the corner was awarded – we had to see that out and we would win. We did not. They sensed it then and then another poor keeping error not helped by standing off in the build up saw it 3-2. After this we panicked. People say it was just the errors but they could have had a pen and several other balls were bouncing around. The whole team completely panicked. If Henderson punches it away then the game is over. He did not though and after this it was contagious. Stevens pointed the finger at Henderson rightly so but he gave away countless fouls in the last 20 minutes or sliced balls when he could have been more composed. Fleck and Norwood did not get hold of the ball at all. The changes did not help really and we suddenly panicked. It seemed we still might hang on but then another awful error from O’Connell and they score again – it reminded me of the Rotherham game in terms of how it ended.
It was unbelievable and felt like a defeat. I do worry how this might affect us. Too many times over the last few years we have played so well but have thrown things away but nothing quite as ridiculous as tonight. We imploded. Yes, it was three errors but the whole team just panicked completely. We needed an old head to get on the ball and just calm it down. We looked a team that did not believe it could see things out and that worries me. I said on twitter; we are good but are not good enough and sadly tonight’s utter throwaway shows why we won’t go up in my opinion. We don’t have the belief or nous in the big games and once again a night when we had a golden chance to get a big win, we blew it. It was a complete bottle job and teams around us will have seen that. Teams that go up do not throw away a 3-goal lead with less than 10 minutes to go.
Wilder had to pick them up but I worry how psychologically it could affect a team that has few players that has ever been this high up the pyramid. I hope they can recover but you get the sense this could be the Coutts moment of last season. I hope I am wrong but that was simply incredible. It was not even that we did not win or even they came back – they have done that before but the way it happened. Not much more to say really. Henderson will rightly get pelters for his horror show. Jack was faultless until that moment but I am concerned they all kind of just fell apart after one mistake at 1-3. They literally looked like scoring every time they attacked after this when before it, we had looked untroubled. People will say we should not forget the first 80 minutes but it completely wasted if we do not see games out. I was furious when at full time and that is hard to say when I love this manager, team and what they have done/are doing but I also think it makes me realise why we may fall short.
Villa – They were rubbish for 30 minutes. Had an ok spell but did not hurry us. Played ok for 10 minutes 2nd half but did not hurt us and then we scored 2 more and it looked done. After this they were kicking it out and looked poor. I felt the game was done and they looked finished but the goal gave them hope. After this they sensed they could come back as they have done it before and so it proved. They put over a few good crosses and did not panic when in the final third. They sensed we were panicky and through weight of numbers and knocking balls into the box, chances came. They showed good composure on the third. Still for all the credit they may get for coming back; they were garbage for most of the game and if we do not make mistakes, they do not get back into it. They celebrated like a win, rightly so.
They may use that momentum to go on a run now. I would not be shocked if they got 6th. They do have some good forward players and Abraham will get goals and with Grealish coming back; will get more creativity. They are awful at the back and the keeper they have brought in looks as poor as the one that has replaced him. Not sure they have improved much since Smith went in and they actually are better when they play balls over the top for their pace and power to challenge. On that performance, they are not going to go up but equally if they can repeat the last 10 minutes to start games and play at a higher intensity then they can maybe put some wins together but they are so slow and languid at the back; they will always concede.
Opponent man of the match – McGinn was excellent. The best midfielder on the park and made some good runs and showed lovely footwork at times. He put in some good crosses and drew fouls. Abraham was a threat with his running but we held him well for the most part. Kodija did some decent things at times and showed some trickery. Whelan helped when he came on as he helped them keep the ball better. I also felt that Green’s header was excellent and only a half chance.
Weak link – Take your pick from the wretched defence or the abysmal Jedinak or Hourihane. The two midfielders were slow and clumsy but the defence even worse. Mings did ok at times but around him it was a nightmare. Elphick was appalling and Sharp ran him ragged all night. Hutton is a clumsy and dirty player who is about done at this level. Taylor on the other side was poor too.