September Report
Aston Villa had a pretty rocky month in September but two great victories at the end of the month in the Carabao Cup against Fulham (premier league opposition) and against Sheffield United in the league. Add to all of this the announcement that Brexit will happen at the end of season, it makes it even more imperative that Villa get promoted due to the possible ramifications that Brexit might involve.
Championship: Blackburn 2-1 Aston Villa
Kodjia (83)
Richards
Ricca
Championship: Aston Villa 2-2 Swansea
Hogan (4)
Kodjia (pen 80)
Chester
Abraham
Lookman
Championship: Q.P.R 3-3 Aston Villa
Abraham (2)
Abraham (58)
McKirdy (85)
Richards
Tuanzebe
Abraham
Bjarnason
Championship: Aston Villa 0-0 Wigan
Carabao Cup R4: Fulham 1-4 Aston Villa
Abraham (VAR pen 8)
Hepburn-Murphy (41)
Zinchenko (54)
Kodjia (55)
Elmohamedy
Championship: Sheffield United 3-4 Aston Villa
Bolasie (20)
Hogan (49)
McKirdy (60)
Kodjia (75)
Tuanzebe
Summary
Well it was a month that started poorly but finished well. The defeat against Blackburn wasn’t just poor but deserved. Blackburn played fantastically well all game, Villa who had a pretty settled starting XI finally showed a touch of complacency in this defeat which led Arsene Wenger to critisize the team for the first time. We are missing something in defence said a clearly frustrated Wenger. We will rectify this in the next couple of games.
Aston Villa then played host to Swansea in a absolute humdinger of a match. It was end to end as Villa took the lead twice but a plucky Swansea side were never out of the game. There were several changes to the team. Scott Hogan came in for Kodjia (who reminded Wenger what he could do, scoring the penalty in which he won.) Hogan scored within 5 minutes. Richards moved to central defence with Tuanzebe and Elmohamedy took the right back role and it worked well.
The classic matches kept coming as Villa drew 3-3 with Q.P.R and again neither side didn’t deserve to lose. Tammy Abraham and Harry McKirdy are getting a lot of plaudits at the moment, but it was Jonathon Kodjia who set up all three goals. Q.P.R are in a false position at the moment and showed the true quality of a team who will be challenging come the end of the season.
Kodjia been in sparkling form this month
So Kodjia was having a very good month as he had already scored two and set three up as the Villans prepared to go to Craven Cottage for the Carabao Cup Round 4. Villa lost to Fulham in the playoff final last season and apparently Wenger played them a replay of that game the day before this match. For some it wouldn’t have mattered but there are young players that would care. Wenger declared this a must win game and Joe Allen was dropped with John McGinn partnering Harry McKirdy.
It was a masterstroke as Villa, playing very attacking and attractive football scored on the 8th minute. The ball was delivered in from the corner and had gone out of play, but the referee who had VAR available to him received a shout from the control room that Kodjia had been pushed. The referee went to look and the penalty was awarded and slotted away by Tammy Abraham. Villa continued to push forward, Hepburn-Murphy (in for Bolasie) caused havoc down the left and got a reward with the second goal. Zinchenko and Kodjia added two more goals to give Villa a 4-1 victory and looked good with Sheffield United(top of the table) upcoming.
Wenger named the same starting XI for the Sheffield match. After just 4 minute Hepburn-Murphy hit his head (he is OK) and Bolasie came on and scored in the 20th minute. At half time Hogan entered the fray and he also scored 2-0 Villa. Sheffield United hit back hard through and within 18 minutes it was 3-2 to United. Villa did not give up however and McKirdy picked up a Bolasie through ball to slot home for 3-3. Villa were in the ascendancy and there pressing was rewarded when that man Kodjia latched onto a McKirdy cross to bury it home for 4-3 Villa and kept Sheffield United from making a gap to the rest in the league.
League Table
Sheffield United remain top of the table despite losing to Villa at the end of the month. For Villa they are there around the playoff zone but will be hoping for something better than the playoffs this season. Blackburn have one of the best defensive records in the league so far just behind Reading, but it is Villa with the best scoring record. In a league where goal difference can mean promotion or playoffs or nothing, Villa will be glad they have one of the best offensive lines in the Championship.
Player Of The Month
Johnathon Kodjia
What a month for the Ivorian. Four goals, 8 assists and an average rating of 8.10 means that the striker hands down wins the Villa player of the month. Kodjia must have thought Abraham was going to be a lone striker when he came into the club but with Wenger deploying two up top it meant Kodjia had someone to run off and boy has he done that this month!
Comments
Mgriffin I hope we dont get a bad one but I bet we do
ScottT I do love a bit of contraversy