Peter Neil Bell's Blog: Cherry Chimes, page 44

Rival Lines: "We've seen players take big leaps forward under Wilder," says Bladespodcast

Rival Lines
Match Preview: Sheffield United v AFCB
Podcaster Interview: Blades Pod
Twitter: @bladespod
Ben at Blades Podcast was kind enough to spare a few minutes to answer some questions ahead of the game on Sunday. I wanted to find out why Sheffield united fans felt they had been doing so well and if they were prepared for what lies ahead- top six finish, European football, FA Cup glory! It's not a bad time to be a Blade is it?

CC: What do you think has been the real secret of Sheffield United's great season?

BP: There's a number of factors but a lot of them come back to the manager and backroom team. Our fitness levels this season have been sensational and we've avoided any serious injuries (touch wood). As to our manager and assistant, we've tweaked our formation and style for the Premier League and reaped the benefits of becoming a team that can live without the ball and break quickly. At the same time, we've retained (and improved on) the skill levels we had in possession last season, allowing us to break presses by playing out from the back against even the top teams - but now we have the pace of Mousset or the target of McBurnie to give us something different if we need it.


CC: If the club got into the top six do you think it would be ready for European football or could it be problematic for the club in the Premier League next season?

BP: Honestly no way of knowing. We were told we didn't have the depth for the Championship, then the Premier League, and now here we are. The club has spent some money in the last couple of transfer windows and we're not slow to move players on and find better versions of them, even in positions where it might not seem urgent to do so (eg, a fifth centre-back). We've also seen players take big leaps forward under Wilder in their second years with us, so I'd expect a few of the newer players to do that next year and suddenly emerge as genuine first-team players rather than fringe ones.
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CC: Are you worried that Chris Wilder is getting linked to new jobs now more often than Eddie Howe?
BP: No - it couldn't be much rosier at the moment. A messy ownership dispute was settled a few months ago, Wilder recently signed a contract until 2024 and the club just broke its transfer record for the fifth time in seven months. Plans are in place on and off the pitch for the continued progress of the club and I just don't see a situation where Wilder leaves unless there's a job he truly can't turn down - and teams like Man Utd are too myopic to consider him. With respect to someone like Everton, what do they really have that the Blades currently do not?
CC: Which game do you think has been Sheffield United's best result and why?
BP: On paper, the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, coming back from 2-0 down, is probably the standout. But I thought our dismantling of Burnley - a "proper" Premier League team - was just an incredible performance. We were 3-0 up at half-time and Burnley seemed utterly shellshocked at the speed and incisiveness with which we attacked. Their left-back was hauled off at half-time and we should really have made it 4, 5 or 6 in the second half.
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CC: Do you feel you are in with a big chance of getting to the latter stages of the FA Cup and does the competition interest fans as much as the Premier League?
BP: It is a very, very good opportunity to have a run. Reading away is about as winnable as you could ask for at this stage, and then you're into the last 8 where only Man City are probably a "no chance" opponent (I'm assuming Liverpool will continue to play half a team, at best). The 5th round doesn't take place until early March, and we're 99% likely to be safe by then if we're not already, so we can afford to take it seriously. I think a lot of fans weren't bothered for the first few rounds but our league form has meant we can suddenly look at it with a bit more interest.
CC: What have you made of Lys Mousset?
BP: Amazing. We can't believe how good he is. There was a lot of rubbish written about this being the "worst signing of the season" when he joined but he immediately looked fantastic for us. He's so fast, plus his touch, finishing and strength are first-rate - he scored with his first five shots on target with us, and has set up plenty of goals himself. The only issue is his fitness - he's still not good enough for much more than 60-70 minutes. If we can get him to peak fitness this summer... wow.
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CC: Which of your players were you most worried about losing in the transfer window just past?

BP: I was confident none of them were going anywhere, although I do think someone will severely test our resolve for Jack O'Connell in the summer. The left-sided centre-back is not only a superb out-and-out defender but is superb on the ball and going forward. We can't understand how Tyrone Mings is in the England squad ahead of him, put it like that.

CC: Have you any injuries ahead of the Bournemouth match?

BP: David McGoldrick has missed the last few games but may be back for this one - we tend to take our time with injured players which is part of the reason we don't have many recurring injuries. Other than that, everyone sounds like they're good to go.

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CC: What would you tell Bournemouth fans to look out for if it is their first trip to Bramall Lane?

BP: The beer. Sheffield is a brilliant city to visit as an away fan, particularly if you're going to Bramall Lane rather than the other lot. The Sheffield Tap is on Platform 1 of the station and well worth a visit, and then you're a short stroll from a huge range of pubs and bars - all within about ten minutes' walk from the Lane.

CC: What is your score prediction?

BP: 2-0 Blades, which would probably finally stop some United fans fretting about relegation...

CC: Which three teams will be relegated this season from the Premier League?

BP: Norwich are too far gone, West Ham have a brutal run of fixtures coming up and a poor manager/no home advantage whatsoever. The third one is harder - I think Watford will be fine, and Villa seem to squeak out a result when they need it. From the outside, it feels like a lot of things are going against Bournemouth with the injuries etc - you've picked up some important results recently, but if you end this month in the bottom three (or close to it) then it could be a rough end to the season with the fixtures after that.

CC: Have you followed Aaron Ramsdale's career since leaving the Blades and do you think he could potentially be England's number one?

BP: I have followed his career with Bournemouth, it's been good to see him playing in the Premier League. It was a move that made sense for us at the time as we were a League One club. As to playing for England - he's probably the next man up after Pickford, Pope, Heaton and Henderson, would be my guess. 21 is still incredibly young for a goalkeeper so he has plenty of development time ahead of him - playing in the Premier League at such a young age can only help that.

CC: Excellent answers from Ben at Blades Podcast . I have to admit, Sheffield united were not one of the teams I expected to see in the top 10 let alone the top six at this stage o the season. They have been particularly hard to beat but Bournemouth must find a way past them this time unlike i the first game in the season that ended as a -1 draw.  Slip up here and we know Bournemouth could find themselves back in the bottom three.

Ramsdale will be desperate for clean sheet at Bramall Lane

Aaron Ramsdale has had a busy career since signing for AFCB in 2017. While he has been out on loan at Chesterfield and AFC Wimbledon, he has made the keeper jersey at Bournemouth his own in a remarkably quick time. Going back to Bramall Lane will be inspirational for him I hope, and I expect there is no where he would rather get his fifth clean sheet of the season.
Aaron Ramsdale will make it a season to remember if he an help the Cherries stay up.Looking at Aaron's stats for this season on the Premier League website it records only one mistake from Aaron leading to a goal. He has had an incredible time between the sticks and has made a total of 83 saves so far, many of them being outstanding. Aaron ranks number four in the number of saves stats and he tops the English keepers, so we are quite right to call him England's number one.

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What makes Aaron special though is the energy he brings to the game. I don't know any other keeper that really gets such a buzz from playing the game. He could be playing out on the pitch all day and wouldn't get bored of playing. He wants to win as well which is something every team needs - players that are winners.

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I was a bit shocked that Aaron blamed himself for the goal that Aston Villa scored against Bournemouth in the last game. He might have been a bit slower than he wanted in going to make the punch, but I am not sure he was ever going to be favourite to get their first. He can put that behind him now though and look to try and get his fifth clean sheet as a ground that will really mean a lot to him.
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Billing and Gosling to carry on in Lerma's absence?

It's a pity that Jefferson Lerma has to miss the match against Sheffield United. He has been in good form and didn't really do enough in my opinion to get sent off in the last game, but Bournemouth can't protest against the judgement which means there is a space to be filled.
Billing and Gosling can keep the momentum going from midfield.I don't think it will be much of a dilemma though for Howe. He is likely to pick a 4-4-2 line up and with a central pairing in midfield, Dan Gosling and Philip Billing are the players that hold the shirts and are likely to continue that for this game. Lewis Cook and Andrew Surman are the other options for Howe, but the side has been winning of late and Gosling and Billing have been big players in recent games and are getting forward well. It's not the time to make too many changes and Eddie Howe knows he has a stable midfield if he picks Billing and Gosling.
Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream is on sale now!What Bournemouth don't have when Lerma is out is a bit of an enforcer or protector of the back four. I believe Billing could do more in that respect f he firmed up his challenges and made himself more difficult to pass. Gosling is good at intercepting the ball when the opposition has it and his anticipation is often not credited for winning the ball and starting off moves. But We'll need both Gosling and Billing to be on their game at Bramall Lane.

AdvertisementSheffield United pass the ball as well as any Premier League side. If they get into a rhythm if could be difficult to work the high press, and Sheffield will probably be trying to draw Bournemouth in to over commit players forward. The positioning of Gosling and Billing will therefore be very important and I just hope they get the balance right of when to hold and when to push on.
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Previous Post on Cherry Chimes - Billing and Aké unlikely goal heroes

Billing and Aké unlikely goal heroes

With a shortage of goals at Dean Court it was good to see Bournemouth get two goals in a first half for the second game in a row. The match against Aston Villa was unlikely to be a goalless draw, but the Cherries have been scoring less goals than Villa and to get the win it was perhaps a surprise where the goals came from.
Is Billing starting to find his feet at AFCB0?Philip Billing has started this year well with goals against Luton Town and now Aston Villa. The goal against Villa was pleasing as it was a good team goal with Francis recovering Fraser's free kick and putting in a deep cross for Gosling to knock down. Billing came from the blind side and passed the ball int the net with some precision. He didn't over hit it and knew he'd scored the instant he connected with the ball.

AdvertisementOur central midfielders haven't exactly been full of goals with only Gosling haven got on the sheet this season, but Lerma also went close against Aston Villa and it would be helpful if these players could get into the box a bit more often. Billing is certainly looking to get forward more and with Dan Gosling missing a good chance early on in the game, it is perhaps been mentioned to the central midfielders that they need to be doing more in an attacking sense if Bournemouth are to start winning games.

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But a second goal was also poached by Nathan Aké against Aston Villa. The defender is always a threat at corners and set pieces and this was another free kick that had come back off the wall and Fraser had put in a strike that Reina could only guide onto Nathan Aké's foot. Aké anticipates well and has been a good source of goals in past seasons.




Advertisement Coastal Garden BuildingsBut Bournemouth also really need their strikers to get on a run. It has been a shame tat Callum Wilson is finding it hard to score at the moment, even if he did have a god chance in the second half. It doesn't really matter who gets the goals, but Bournemouth will want Callum firing in goals again soon.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Bournemouth find their rhythm against Villa

Bournemouth find their rhythm against Villa

What a difference a few weeks can make to what we feel as supporters about our team. A few weeks ago there seemed no hope, Bournemouth were crashing down the league table quicker than rain was falling down the drain pipe. The slippery slope didn't seem to be coming to an end, until the Brighton result gave a tiny bit of hope which flourished into a full blown performance against Aston Vila where all the players looked totally at it.
Bournemouth found their stride against Villa.It has been hard to watch the Cherries at times this season. At times you just wanted to turn the radio off rather than listen to more criticism about just how poor the Cherries had been playing. But with the team suddenly stringing a couple of wins together and the table looking a bit easier to look at, Bournemouth appear to be enjoying their football again. That is what has been missing in my opinion more than anything else. The players were feeling sorry for themselves, but now they are hungry to get results and to punish other teams - it has made the world of difference.Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream is on sale now!Against Aston Villa we saw renewed vigour and a rhythm to Bournemouth's play going forward that has been absent for too long. The players were moving quickly looking to get free in space and turning and asking for the ball. There was no hesitation or dwelling on the ball, this was a team that wanted to get on with business and take the game to the opposition.

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If one player set the tone for the win over Villa, it was Simon Francis but they all contributed to be fair. The defence was solid and looked to clear the ball quickly, while the midfield and attack didn't get frustrated when they didn't get the early goal. The belief was back and the players responded when they lost possession to win it back quickly. It buoyed the crowd to see it and there was no surprise in the end that Bournemouth added three valuable points to their total.

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Previous post - Francis is not finished yet

Francis is not finished yet

Simon Francis has had his fair share of knockers this season. He must be approaching the end of his Premier League career, but he's not going without trying to recapture some of his old form. Against Aston Villa it was a surprise to see him start ahead of Steve Cook, but during the game he showed why he was worth the starting place.
Simon Francis did well enough to keep his place for the next game.Francis was very much involved in the game making some important challenges and clearance in Bournemouth's box. He looks much happier at centre-half than at right back and finds a little more time to get into position, when playing centre-back. There was little slow play around Bournemouth's box against Villa and the decision to launch the ball up field quickly worked well for the Cherries.


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Francis was also instrumental in setting up Bournemouth's first goal with the cross to Dan Gosling. I think we have forgotten what a good crosser of the ball he has been in his career and he did well to pick Gosling out. But it was the defensive game of Francis that was particularly strong against Villa. Francis was determined to win his challenges and I thought he was an inspiration to the rest of the team on the day.



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We'll see how long it takes Francis to recover, but I'd not be surprise if Steve Cook has to wait a little longer before he gets back into the team.

Previous Post - Long ball Cherries caused problems for Villa

Long ball Cherries caused problems for Villa

There was a different game plan for Aston Villa that worked extremely well in the first half hour. Instead of taking their time to get the ball forward, Bournemouth went long and drilled long passes and goal kicks up into the Villa half, and won the knock downs to get themselves on the front foot.
Ramsdale is getting the big kicks in now. It's a weapon that we can see is very effective.Bournemouth have struggled to get the ball into areas where they can hurt the opposition, but there was none of that against Aston Villa. The players knew they had to attack and not get caught with the ball around their own box. It was refreshing to see the players so alert to opportunities as soon as the ball was in the opposition's half.
Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream is on sale now!I am sure it caught Aston Villa by surprise. The quick start to the game by Bournemouth was certainly helped by the way the players looked to win the ball back quickly and press when Villa did get possession. It was all fast play and it didn't give Villa a chance to slow things down and settle. I am not sure why the game is sometimes harder to do the same things from one day to the next, but for once Bournemouth carried out their game plan and it was effective.

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Causing problems for Aston Villa's defence might not have led to individual errors from Villa, but it did put them on edge and forced them back. Jack Grealish was less of a threat when he was having to help out their defence and for the first half, Bournemouth didn't have Grealish causing them so many problems. Keeping the pressure the pressure going was probably helped by the crowd's enthusiasm for what they were seeing, but that kind of intensity is a great quality to have that hopefully Bournemouth will employ in more games to the end of the season.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - A harsh sending off for Lerma

A harsh sending off for Lerma

Jefferson Lerma was the recipient of two yellow cards against Aston Villa and apart from Jack Grealish, there probably weren't that many people who really expected Lerma to see red for the two challenges he made. The first was a missed timed tackle and it warranted a yellow card. What was getting our backs up though was that Anthony Taylor wasn't being consistent with his yellow cards.
Lerma gets a raw deal over second yellow card.The second foul that caused Taylor to give Lerma a second yellow card and consequent red was a travesty. Eddie Howe said it was difficult to see where Lerma could go. Indeed, Lerma was merely standing his ground when Grealish launched himself forward at the player, knowing Lerma down. There was no intent from Lerma to block off Grealish, he was simply standing in front of Villa's attacker and was taken by surprise when Grealish decided he would try to run at Bournemouth's number eight.
Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -available now!The referee clearly saw something very different, but it was annoying that VAR could not be used to correct a misjudgement. It easily could have cost Bournemouth the game and the referee seemed to have it in for Lerma with the way he didn't even listen to Simon Francis' pleas to be consistent with the fouls that other players had been making and getting away with.
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While we need referee's to be firm, it only damages their image when they seem unable to control a game without some leniency when some challenges are open to debate and interpretation. Perhaps Eddie Howe should have withdrawn Lerma at half time when he had just the one card. Lewis Cook or Andrew Surman could have been used and it means now that Lerma will miss the next game.

AdvertisementI don't blame Lerma for the fact that he was sent off, because I don't think the second challenge merited a yellow card at all. But these kind of things make the team even more determined to go and get a result against the next team and the players will play for Lerma and feel that they are owed another result because of what happened in the Villa game.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Great scenes at the end of Villa match

Great scenes at the end of the Villa match

It was a heart-warming scene at the end of the match against Aston Villa. The players looked genuinely relieved by the result and delighted in the way that they had played. It was all the more important for a win, because they had done it with 10-men in the second half and had finally managed to escape the bottom three.
The win brought everyone together at AFCB.Eddie Howe wanted the players to connect with the crowd and they had done that during the game, but the end of the match was special. Rather than walking off having done the lap of the pitch the players were encouraged to come back and form a circle to talk about what they had just achieved. I feel Eddie Howe felt that they needed to let the moment soak in and feel the warmth from the crowd, which was now back and fully behind them in their battle to stay up.Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream is on sale now!We saw Eddie Howe give special congratulations to Aaron Ramsdale and walk off with Diego Rico with his arms around the defender. The praise for Ramsdale should not have been just for his performance in keeping Aston Villa restricted for one goal, but for the way he personally lifted the spirits of the whole club and especially the supporters with his enthusiasm and smiling face whenever he plays. He is truly an exceptional person as well as a great goal keeper and with personalities like that at the club, the work place must be an infectious place of fun.

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The results are stating to come now and it is pleasing to think Bournemouth might have turned the corner, but the team has to go and beat teams that are above them in the table now if they are to pull away from those teams around them. The challenge is still there and the ring of friendship at the end of the Aston Villa match will hopefully push the players on to more delightful scenes at the end of the next few games.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - The Cherries rise out of the bottom three beating Villa 2-1

The Cherries rise out of the bottom three beating Villa 2-1

Match ReportAFCB 2 v 1 Aston Villa1 February 2020Attendance: 10,722 It's a crunch relegation game.What a big game to win. Bournemouth pleasingly turned up to get back to back home wins - the first of 2020. The players knew the importance of the game and they were like a dog with a bone. They tore into Aston Villa and did all they could to get the upper hand. The breakthrough came after a free kick and Simon Francis' cross found Gosling to head back into Philip Billing's path for his first Premier League goal for the Cherries. It was very soon 2-0 ,when Ryan Fraser's shot was spilled by Pepe Reina right in front of Nathan Aké. It was no easy passage in the second half, as Jefferson Lerma was sent off for his second yellow card foul on Jack Grealish, Despite a goal headed in by Mbwana Sattama for Villa, Bournemouth were not going to let these three points slip.


Ramsdale runs off to greet the North Stand crowd.Bournemouth set up as a 4-3-3 formation with Simon Francis keeping Steve Cook out of the team at centre-back, Diego Rico coming back in at left back and Philip Billing partnering, Gosling and Lerma in midfield, while Adam Smith was also back in the team. The bench also saw Junior Stanislas back available for selection.
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The teams swap ends.There are more images on Match Day Gallery


AdvertisementMatch DescriptionAdam Smith gets on down the right, pulls it back for Harry Wilson. A scuffed shot into the ground and Adam Smith heads wide. Almost the perfect start for Bournemouth. Bournemouth are pressing and going for the jugular, but Lerma gives a foul away.

Bournemouth are going more direct with high balls over the top. A fee kick by Ryan Fraser comes off Callum Wilson, but is picked up by Reina.

Billing has a shot saved by Reina, down to his left. Lerma puts in a big challenge. Bournemouth flow forward and Callum Wilson plays it to Gosling, who goes down, no penalty.

Fraser shoots right at Reina. Mings is almost caught by Callum Wilson at the back.

Lerma is booked for taking out Grealish. Aston Villa have won a corner. Grealish shoots wide from the left. AdvertisementHarry Wilson is fouled 30 yards out. Harry Wilson hits it over the wall but Reina pops it up and holds on to it just before Callum Wilson and Nathan Aké get there.

Villa cross from the left and Guilbert hits his shot high and well over.

Harry Wilson down the right, back to Gosling and he's missed the target, hitting it over. Big chance, 24 minutes gone.

Eddie Had a Dream is on sale now!Grealish puts in a cross from the left, but it misses everyone and just goes pass the right post. Grealish has a shot blocked but Villa are offside anyway.

Guilbert gets down the right and Ramsdale saves, corner.

Harry Wilson and Fraser is caught. A booking for Mings. Rico's cross goes past everyone.
Francis plays it back from the right. Gosling knocks it down and Billing finds the finish, bottom left corner 1-0 on 37 minutes.

Free kick to Villa. Lerma is taken down by Douglas who is booked. Harry Wilson shoots into the wall, Fraser hits it and Reina hasn't got hold of it. Ake puts it in from close range 2-0.

Two corners in a row for Villa.
A superb first half for AFCB.Second Half
Villa sub Konsa and bring on Engles. El Ghazi on the break is stopped by Rico. Lerma hits the cross bar from 25 yards. Lerma blocks Grealish and Lerma is sent off.

Free kick to Villa and its headed just over by 21. Another chance for Villa goes begging.

EL Ghazi is subbed for Davis on 59 minutes. Gosling has Reina stretching high to his left.

Villa win a corner. Ramsdale makes the catch. Rico, Fraser, then Billing and Callum Wilson fires just wide.
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Grealish crosses and Targett shoots and its cleared off the line by Adam Smith, corner. An important save by Adam Smith. Callum Wilson is now booked! Grealish plays it square to Nakamba who wastes the shot, over.

Twenty minutes left. Francis blocks a shot from Davis but its looped up, and Samatta heads in 2-1. Villa are back in this.

Grealish on the turn shoots wide of the left post. Davis is in a foot race, beats Aké but can't beat Ramsdale who saves with his feet. Another good save from Ramsdale.

Advertisement Coastal Garden BuildingsEngles Cross is won by Davis, who heads over. Free kick to Villa. Mings heads over. Nkamba goes off Trezeguet comes on with 11 minutes to go, Bournemouth free kick.

Targett crosses and Francis puts it out for a corner which Billing heads clear. Bournemouth's corner is cleared. Guilbert handballs but is not carded.

Four minutes to add. Yellow card for Hause. Mings is stopped after a good run and Wilson  on the break crosses from the right, but Fraser can't quite reach it.
A great result for the Cherries.SummaryA massive win for Eddie Howe's team. This felt very special. The team performed really well and dug in when they went down to 10-men. The noise at Dean Court was great and the players enjoyed the win as much as the home crowd - football feels good to watch again. Bournemouth are in a much happier place and players are coming back. Now they know what it takes to get a win and we need to see that kind of commitment every week for the rest of the season. Do that and Bournemouth will be safe.  The players know they are out of the relegation zone.AFCB line up AFCB Subs: Boruc, S Cook, Surman, L Cook, Stanislas, Solanke, Surridge
AFCB Ratings: Ramsdale 8, A Smith 9, Francis 8, Ake 7, Rico 7, H Wilson 6, Billing 8, Lerma 6, Gosling 6, Fraser 7, C Wilson 6
Cherry Chimes MoM: Adam Smith great save on the line and several positive runs.


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Ref Watch: Anthony Taylor - 1/10: The crowd got on his back and it may have made him a bit more tetchy as it was hard on Lerma for a second yellow card and he let a lot of fouls go while giving Lema the same luxury.
Aston Villa: 29 Reina, 15 Konsa (Engles 45), 40 Mings., 30 Hause, 24 Guilbert, 6 Douglas Luiz, 11 Nakamba (Trezeguet 80), 18 Targett, 21 El Ghazi (Davis 58), 20 Samatta,
10 Grealish

Aston Villa Subs: 25 Nayland, 8 Lansbury, 14 Hourihane, 17 Trezeguet, 39 Davis, 22 Engles,