SON OF SOBS: VILLA

Today we faced the Villains, who have had experienced the polar opposite start to the season of us. Rigg started his first game of the season and Habib was rested due to (allegedly, at the time of writing) a 'bad foot'. Le Fee was on the left again, but an early run up the wing from Reinildo showed he would likely have plenty of space to cut inside. More on that later...

Early on Enzo showed more of his newly found aggression cutting leaving the Polish international Cash - short changed. We'd spent most of the opening 10 mins running at them, save an out of character poor touch by Hume that led to a fruitless corner. Isidor managed to get his head on a ball from Chem, but it was nowt but fluff. Rigg showed he could keep up with the big lads as he dropped his shoulder and put Issy through to win a corner.

RLB stood solid on the touchline while Villa's Vampire danced up and down like he'd seen sunlight for the first time. We'd looked the better team for most of the opening 20 mins. Midweek Regis had been shouting (that's right, shouting) about switching the play, mostly likely taking a page, or a chapter even out of Xhaka's book.

Roefs to the rescue again after a free kick from Villa. A replay showed Watkins was offside, but it was still the visitors only shot by the halfway mark. This saw our guests gain a bit of momentum. Sam Barret fell hook line and sinker for a dive from McGinn, convincing the ref that even though he didn't have the ball and was failing to chase down Talbi.

On 35 we saw our first red of the seasons as a stupid reflex action from Reinildo saw his studs clash with Cash. Red card. Silly. Matty Cash had looked a nuisance from the get go and made the most of it to boot. RLB bolstered the backline with the return of big Dan Ballard, and Rigg sadly saw his promising Premier debut cut short. As we closed in on halftime Villa threw everything and the kitchen sink at us to try and make up for their first half lack of movement.

Half time 0-0. We still had a game plan.

We opened the second half with little change in our game plan. We still seemed to be getting into the final third as often as we could. Omar hit the bar with a bullet of a header. We still believed and so did the crowd. After number of balls into their box and some early argy bargy as Nordi took up human bowling and managed to chop big Mings and number of others, leaving a pile of players in the six-yard box.

60 mins in the visitors made some changes to try and make their advantage count. We still pushed for as Talbi, now deployed as a flying wingback, found Sadiki who won a corner. once again we threaten with another set piece. Hume splatted Rodgers with a Trai special.

Against the run of play the nuisance stepped up again. Roefs couldn't control a blazing shot from the afternoons real villain. 0-1 to Villa. Bugger.

With 20 minutes as we showed our mettle and continued to press. Xhaka had a pop but it was easily stopped. The Swiss showed his class seconds later as he found Sadiki with a cool backheel, but Noah's attempt to find Wilson was lacking.

On 75 minutes the man who loves to score late level. WILSON! Talbi's deflected shot found the cool head of Granit, who deftly dinked the ball over the top for the Frenchman to guide home. 3 in 3 at home for Isidor. Gerrup.

Ten minutes to we mad a triple change for us to give it what for for the last 10. Mayenda, Arthur and Lutsharel Geertruida replaced Issy, Talbi and Enzo. Talbi had still had a belter in his makeshift role. We pushed high as Eli and his new afro bullied Villas backline. Xhaka fluffed his lines in our box and gifted Harvey Elliott a shot that narrowly whistled by our post.

Sadiki's blistering runs caught up with him as cramped saw him replaced on 90 mins. Last seasons captain joined the affray as 5 minutes added time was announced. The visiting villains continued to press and Watkins tested Roefs but he was flagged offside again. The Vampire could hack any more daylight and scuttled down the tunnel.

Full time 1-1.

Aside from the last 10 minutes we'd more than held our own. A real determined and positive performance. Even with 10 men we'd looked decent and shown we can adapt when we needed to. We genuinely seemed to have a plan for this exact scenario. There was a real positivity amongst our players who felt they still should have gotten something even with 10. The mindset RLB has instilled in this team is unreal.

Wilson set a premier league record as the first player in a newly promoted side to score in the first three home games of the season. We were definitely the better team and had we had 11 I reckon we'd definitely have got more and so did our players A well earned point.

Still unbeaten at home.

Keep the faith,

GPD