Whilst the 4-2 victory against Nottingham Forest helps to keep Villa in the chase for Champions League qualification, there seems to be little respite in terms of injury headaches. With Villa cruising at half-time and sitting on a 3-1 lead, the recently returned Pau Torres did not re-appear for the second half. Embed from Getty Images The reason provided by Unai Emery in his post-match press conference was that the Spaniard had been withdrawn due to suffering leg pain. Torres has only recently been gently recuperated back to match fitness after struggling to shake off an ankle injury sustained ..read more

Villa were simply too much for Forest on a crisp but bright afternoon in B6. The visitors were utterly overwhelmed by three quickfire first-half goals, which were enough to encourage a large contingent of the away support to make an early return to the East Midlands. For Villa, it’s another big push in the right direction and our ambitions of a top-four finish. Embed from Getty Images Yes, yes, there were a few minutes either side of half-time that were typically nervy and so Aston Villa. Lessor Villa sides have crumbled and would have surrendered the three-goal cushion, but this side is built ..read more

After a dip in form in the New Year, there has been a renewed sense of optimism after a thumping win against Sheffield United and victory away at Fulham last weekend. This Saturday we must negotiate the visit of Nottingham Forest to Villa Park. Not much has changed for Unai Emery, who has little choice but to pick from the same squad as that which appeared at Craven Cottage. There’s little point in listing the names, it’s a growing list of long-term absentees. We have compensated and are buoyed by the recent return of the likes of Pau Torres and Lucas Digne to the squad, but it’s fair to say t ..read more

After sitting out the last round having topped our Europa Conference Group, we had the novel experience of waiting to see who would be drawn to face us in the last 16. As it happens, the draw has paired Villa against one of Europe’s most famous clubs; Ajax. Embed from Getty Images With respect to the other sides in the competition, this fixture looks like the pick of the bunch with Villa riding high in the Premier League, set to face four-time European champions Ajax. The only previous meeting between the clubs was in 2008 as Villa secured a 2-1 win in the UEFA Cup group stage The studious Vil ..read more

Two smart Ollie Watkins goals in either half were enough to see off a tricky away fixture at Craven Cottage. It’s a big, big result that lifts Villa back into the top four and firmly in the hunt for Champions League football with Spurs losing to Wolves. Embed from Getty Images Villa didn’t have it all their own way, and arguably rode their luck a little, but it was also a case of yet more questionable officiating on the day. Villa’s opener came courtesy of pressing our opponents, dispossessing them in the final third, before a match sharp Jacob Ramsey fed Watkins who made no mistake from insid ..read more

Villa will be looking to bounce back from the defeat to Manchester United last time out, whilst our hosts Fulham are aiming to build on their win over Bournemouth. Emery is now facing up to a growing injury crisis, with the club now battling the fact that a number of key players are long-term absentees. The latest is of course French international Kamara, who is has been confirmed will miss the rest of the campaign and Diego Carlos missing with a hamstring complaint. A mix of the impact of injuries, indifferent form and opposition adapting to our style of play has seen Villa’s league form stal ..read more

In the latest injury set-back to rock the club, Brazilian centre-back Diego Carlos is reported to have sustained a hamstring injury at Bodymoor Heath. This news is another hammer blow, not least for a player who has yet to establish himself after a long layoff following a serious achilles injury, but as the club attempts to navigate a period with increasing numbers of senior players absent. Embed from Getty Images Little has yet been reported as to the severity of the injury, with Villa awaiting medical assessment in the coming days to establish both the extent and length of Carlos’ potential ..read more

After a tricky start to his Villa career, hampered by both injury and indifferent form, Leon Bailey has developed into an important member of Unai Emery’s squad. Having arrived for big money (25m) in 2021 from Bayer Leverkusen of the Bundesliga, Villa were crying out for the Jamaican international to hit the ground running. It hasn’t always been straightforward, but Bailey has certainly caught the eye this season with a string of eye-catching contributions. Indeed, ten of his sixteen goals for the club have come this term. Bailey was arguably a bit of a head-scratcher, with the winger having a ..read more

In the latest piece of terrible injury news is the confirmation that Villa’s French international midfielder Boubacar Kamara has suffered a serious knee injury. Kamara went down during the 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United and immediately gestured to the bench. Despite managing to hobble off the pitch, it has since been revealed that he has likely suffered a ruptured ACL, which is nothing short of a hammer blow for the player and club. Embed from Getty Images Villa’s injuries, particularly long-term, are now beginning to bite in a campaign that has seen the club competing at the top end of ..read more

It was a festive stroll at Old Trafford. A Christmas walk in the park. We were 2-0 up, United were shellshocked and Villa were in complete control. Even now it’s difficult to fathom quite how we fashioned a defeat on Boxing Day (2023). Still, such occurrences are now history and we must move on, but then… “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. It’s been a period of indifferent individual and team form since for Villa, with a 5-0 away victory at Sheffield United, sandwiched between two sub-par defeats to Newcastle and Chelsea respectively. Emery must be scratching his ..read more