BURTON 0-4 VILLA

Is this finally the tide turning?

Might this be the moment we can genuinely consider ourselves on the ascendency?

Whilst there’s much of the season ahead of us, it’s hard to disregard an impressive upturn in form.

Bruce, publicly defiant of criticism following an indifferent start, now finds the club on a 7 game unbeaten stretch, 3 straight wins, 2 of them away from home.

After solid victories against Barnsley & Nottingham Forest, Burton were overwhelmed by Villa’s attacking options in a little over half an hour.

Another positive sign is that goals are now starting to flow from different parts of the pitch.  For too long we’ve been hamstrung by having few obvious sources of a goal & this is certainly something to build upon.

GOALS, GOALS, GOALS!

The first came following another telling assist from the unassuming Elmohamedy.

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The Eygtian’s pin-point cross being powerfully headed home by Kienan Davis.

Elmo has come in for close scrutiny in some quarters whilst he’s found his feet at Villa Park, but his worth was once again underlined here.

Davis continues to impress and could stand to be a devastating option to unexpectedly have marauding the front-line this term.

With the youngster’s desire, work-rate and potential, few will even give Ross McCormack a second glance as he departs to Australia.

The second goal came from arguably one of the team’s slickest moves this season.

Breaking from deep, single touches starting with Adomah, then Hourihane, Davis & Snodgrass, saw Adomah put through to power the ball through the keeper.  It was a superb demonstration of the potential within the side.

Adomah, so inconsistent at times last season, is now the 3rd top scorer in the division & a constant threat to the opposition.  His goal was again deserved, not least as he’d ran half of the length of the pitch to reach it.

The third, barely after half an hour saw Villa vitually wrap up affairs.

It came courtesy of Robert Snodgrass slamming an impressive half volley into the net from the edge of the area.  The West Ham loanee was unfortunate to see a second goal ruled out by the official for a push.

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The second half saw Villa cruising.

Josh Onamah, on as a sub for Jonathan Kodjia, capped the night off.

Scott Hogan burst forward only to see his run checked by a desperate, tired challenge from the Burton defender.

Whilst this drove Hogan wide of his shooting angle, he cut the ball back to the well placed Onomah, who fired the ball home after barely 2 minutes on the pitch.

SUMMARY

What more can we want at this stage?

Whilst there persists a group whom vehement refuse to acknowledge any progress [across social media], on current form, Bruce is steering the ship in the right direction.

Two emphatic scores away from home cannot go un-noticed.  Further, the manager, through some trial and error has found an 11 that can hurt teams and protect itself at key moments.  That’s progress in anyone’s book, let alone ours.

We are now 8th, 4 points off 2nd spot & well and truly in striking distance.

Whilst this blog would certainly caution restraint at the same time [as much as it did to quell the hysteria to sack Bruce a mere week or so ago] – as a fan base we surely need to park the managerial ‘debate’ sooner rather than later?

Must we re-visit and over-analyse the minutia after every single match?  Why for some must the debate be polarised around Steve Bruce constantly?

Instead, let’s channel our support and interest into this new-look Villa side.

Expensively assembled, with great expectation resting upon their shoulders, they’re now charged with sustaining this run.

UP NEXT?

The next hurdle to negotiate is Bolton at home this Saturday.

A team floundering at the foot of The Championship can be readily dismissed [at our peril].

It’s a game, given our ambitions for the season, we must approach professionally….and win.

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