Villa beat West Ham as Dave Woodhall pays due respect.
There are times when you just know. Villa had lost the last three league games and had been poor in them all but there was an air of confidence on Sunday afternoon that things were going to be put right and the recent struggles are over.
Some of it was because on Thursday night Villa had shown in the win over Lille that the old confidence was returning. Some was due to the weekend’s results, which were much better than expected. And most of it was down to four words – “Number seven, John McGinn.”
He may not be the most talented player in the team, but Super John’s importance goes much further than what he does on the pitch. I’m trying to think of the last Villa player who had such a massive talismanic effect on the club. Jack Grealish perhaps, but there was always the feeling he wouldn’t be with us much longer. Gareth Barry, although he was never one of us in the same way. Whoever it was, McGinn is up there with them; a true captain, leader, legend but one with class and dignity. In short, a Villa man.
We also had the welcome return of Matty Cash plus Youri Tieleman on the bench, while Pau Torres and Ross Barkley started, because we can now afford to rest first-teamers.
And the feeling of confidence continued once the match got underway. Long throws and set-pieces are back in fashion; the former led to a long-range Lucas Digne shot being pushed around the post in the early stages while on fifteen minutes the former saw McGinn inevitably opening the scoring.
Watkins and Morgan Rogers combined for another chance that was well-saved, a string of corners caused the visitors problems but there were no further goals until midway through the second half. A triple substitution including the return of Tielemans had just been made when Morgan Rogers’ long run ended in a shot that was pushed out only for Ollie Watkins to score from the loose ball.
Although they had further chances, Unai’s style now seems to be based around doing enough and not much more, and if that’s what he wants then he’s the expert. Villa dominated today in a way they haven’t done for a while. The goalscorers rightly took the headlines but there was much more to praise.
The defence were on top form again, albeit against limited and relegation-bound opposition (because Spurs won’t be relegated no matter where they finish) and Jadon Sancho had the sort of match that makes you think he might have a future here while Ross Barkley showed he’s more than adequate squad cover.
The afternoon, though, belonged to McGinn. We’ve managed to avoid winning trophies for a long while and if anyone deserves this run to end it’s him. From the Championship to the Champions League is an almighty journey and if he lifts the Europa League in May Super John will deservedly enter the pantheon of all-time claret and blue greats.
