GARY NEWBON Villa show signs of life – but it may be too little, too late to save them
FOOTBALL... bloody hell! That was Sir Alex Ferguson’s quote to me after Manchester United’s two stoppage-time goals that won the 1999 European Champions League and completed his club’s historic treble.
Sir Alex was trying to take it all in on the final whistle, and his mind was in a whirl when he gave me that instant reaction for the live ITV audience of 14 million back home.
He later described it as gibberish but it remains one of the most famous football quotes. And it sums up the unpredictable game.
It also aptly applies to what happened in the weekend’s Premier League relegation battle.
Both Aston Villa and Bournemouth, who could hardly score a goal let alone win a match since the resumption of this season after lockdown, have suddenly got their fingertips on the edge of the cliff instead of falling off it, unlike Norwich City who are down.
West Ham and Watford both won on Saturday, which at the time created a seven-point gap to Villa and six points to Bournemouth.
At the moment, West Ham and Watford have a superior goal difference, which may still be decisive with only three more matches each to play.
Then Villa beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at home on Sunday – a match they had every chance of winning as long as they were at it. Palace had lost their previous four games. Bournemouth then produced the shock of the weekend, beating fourth-placed Leicester 4-1 after a disastrous second half for the Foxes. Suddenly, the gap is three points and four points for Villa. So, will both or either do it after being written off by most? Brighton are on 36 points but with their three matches away to Southampton, home to Newcastle before finishing at Burnley, they should scrape home.
Two key games are on Friday night when West Ham host Watford and then are at home to Villa on the last day of the season on July 26. West Ham’s other match is at Manchester United. Watford have two toughies – at home to Manchester City (who are scoring for fun) and finishing at Arsenal. Bournemouth are away to Manchester City tomorrow (good luck there!) and then at home to Southampton, before going to Everton, who host Villa on Thursday.
Everton looked poor losing 3-0 at Wolves on Sunday but I cannot believe that manager Carlo Ancelotti will not improve them at home.
Villa’s other game is at home to Arsenal a week today.
I cannot help thinking that if West Ham are still involved at the end, then Villa’s easiest match on paper was on Sunday against Palace.
Will they do it? Sadly, I think not. There is just too much to do at this stage.
Aston Villa have suddenly got their fingertips on the edge of the cliff instead of falling off it, unlike Norwich.