Been there, done that... Jedinak’s ready for another Championship promotion push

MILE Jedinak’s been through this promotion business before. He’s also experienced mid-season managerial upheaval, the effects of inflated expectation levels and a rocky patch that almost saw former club Crystal Palace implode at the worst possible moment.

Bumps in the road are nothing new to this seasoned star but while Jedinak recognises that collective improvements need to be made if Villa are to flourish in the second half of the season, his wise words also allay any fears that this campaign could fizzle out devoid of the much-needed happy ending.

“I know how difficult it is to get out of this division and we won’t get out of this league by just turning up,” the 32-year-old said. “Everybody wants to show up when they play against us because we are the biggest club in the division.

“We just have to recognise we represent a club that is trying to do something special, but also something that is very difficult in the modern game.

“Through my own experiences, I know that we’re not that far off.

“I get excited by that thought so now it is about understanding that we’ve been chosen to play here so we all have a job to do. Let’s not put any restrictions on where that can get us. Let’s just go and do it and do it the best way we can and see where it gets us.”

Jedinak is the deep-thinker of the group – the analyser, the intellect.

“You can’t get by at any level if you can’t exert yourself physically or keep up with the demands,” he continues. “As a group we must make sure we’re all in sync with each other. We need to be connected through each other’s actions. We’re almost at the halfway stage and by now we shouldn’t be having to react to things.

“We need to be able to anticipate them and be on the front foot, having experienced them already in this division and in our previous experiences. Nothing should be taking us by surprise any more.”

Villa scraped past QPR at Loftus Road to keep up with the pack thanks to Jonathan Kodjia’s winner. The victory also stuck one up Ian Holloway, the Hoops boss who predicted Villa would finish in 16th spot this term.

Ironically, for Jedinak, it’s experiences gained from his time under Holloway at Palace that still play a part in his everyday thinking. The madcap boss inspired the Eagles to promotion via the playoffs in 2012/13 after taking over three months into the season and presiding over an almost fatal endof-term collapse.

“We limped into the play-offs and we weren’t expected to do anything but when we got there it was a different story,” Jedinak recalls. “We came into our own and Ollie played a big part in that. He’s a football tragic you know – he loves football so much and is very passionate about the game.

“It was a huge moment in my career and something I will never forget. He played a big part in that.”