Villa beat Manchester City with Dave Woodhall, amongst others, jubilant.
Saturday marked Unai Emery’s fourth anniversary as Villa manager. He couldn’t have had a finer stage to mark the occasion, nor been given a better present.
The weather was horrible, made worse by the building work that leaves the rest of Villa Park exposed to the elements, and the opposition are cheats, made worse by their 100% start. As always, the team line-up was a bit of a surprise, although in this case it was because there were no extra injuries, doubtful players started and Ian Maatsen was making his return ahead of schedule. Times really are changing.
As the match kicked off there seemed a determination that now was the start of matters being put right. Villa suffered more than most from Manchester City’s cheating – players picked off, roads to progress blocked and a cup final defeat. Beating them today wouldn’t make up for all that but it would mean a lot more than just three points and the chance to move up the table.
It didn’t take long for this feeling to take tangible form. A defensive error was pounced on by John McGinn, whose ball through to Nicolas Jackson saw Villa’s star striker beat one opponent then hit his shot perfectly.
The visitors then stepped up and it was time for the world’s new number one to make a couple of superb saves and the post to help out.
The second half began as the first ended and there was no real surprise when the visitors first got an equaliser and shortly afterwards a chance that needed another quality save from Suzuki. Then Ibrahim Mbaye was introduced and within seconds laid on another goal for Jackson.
There was time for Suzuki to make yet more good stops and a late headed clearance from Maatsen before the final whistle brought a roar of jubilation, triumph and a fair bit of relief. It’s incredible to think that this was Villa’s first league win at home.
As ever the goalscorer got the headlines but there was so much to applaud behind him. Mbaye, Alysson and Johan Manzambi continue to excel. Joao Gomes has slotted almost unseen into the centre of midfield while his partner Boubacar Kamara is back to his best. Then the’s Victor Lindelof, who in the space of little more than twelve months has gone from why the hell did we sign him, to decent cover when needed to first-choice central defender.
You can also look at what’s on the bench. To be able to bring on Emiliano Buendia and Leon Goretzka shows the depth of talent Unai has at his disposal while the introductions of Mbaye and Brian Madjo, aged eighteen and seventeen respectively, reinforced the potential in this squad for the next decade and more.
The next milestone for Unai arrives in a few weeks time, when he will become Villa’s longest-serving manager since Ron Saunders. My predictive powers have always been appalling (although I’m still convinced Tony Cascarino will come good one day), but I’ll state with absolute certainty that by the time Unai overtakes Saunders, he will have won either the Premier, the Champions League, or both.
