[themaclad]

At the beginning of October 2016 North End beat Villa 2-0 in the reverse fixture as bad as the defeat was for Villa that day they will look at that result and in time it was probably the best thing to happen to them in a long time. Following the hammering and it was the Villa board decided that it was time to put an end to Di Matteo's tenure as Villa boss, in his place came Steve Bruce and this has brought some stability to the club results have improved and they still possibly have a chance of the play offs even though they are four points and places below North End.
They have lost a couple of players to the African Cup of exceedingly Dull and crap Football tournament, but still have a strong squad to pick from which could be further improved with the probability of signing Lansbury for £3 million from the hapless Nottingham Forest, they are also after Jordan who scores when he wants Rhodes although Middlesbrough want considerably more than Villa are offering, also rumoured to be after Barnsley skipper Conor Hourihane.
They have ex North End loannee Sam Johnstone between the sticks for them. Last time out they lost 1-0 at Wolves in a performance that Bruce was less than impressed with.
Villa have accumulated most of their points at Villa Park but away from home they have struggled with only one win.
North End will be without the suspended duo of Pearson and Cunningham which will probably mean a place for Tommy Spurr at left back although possibility Grayson may go 352 and give Boyle a debut otherwise very close to the side that saw off Brighton last week.
Beckford is back from suspension and he really does owe us big time, suspect if he comes on will be sent off after 10 minutes.
Have not been to Villa Park since 1984 and have never seen North End there, the Whites have sold all 2700 tickets for a trip to a ground which has not been on the fixture list for years although did coming second in a league cup tie in 2005? losing 5-0.

[themaclad]

Lansbury signs for Villa

[themaclad]

Well at half time we were two down in our cup final which was a bit rich from the home fans considering they were four places below us in the league, and to be far to the home side they deserved to be in front although the penalty which led to the second could easily be classed as the worst decision in the history of the game. The second half however was just a bit different.
Have to say Villa Park is a fabulous stadium although today the 30,000 home support were out sung by the 2700 sell out away support.
North End left out Horgan and brought back Johnson to play at his former club, like teh rest of the team the first half passed him by, as Villa were first to every ball, challenge and generally looked more up for the game than a very lacklustre visitors.
Villa had already gone close through youngster Green although in truth he really should have scored, heading wide when he should really have scored.
Villa took the lead after 22 minutesb Agbonlahor was played in by a deft flick, his first touch was woeful however he won the ball in a clash with the diving Maxwell, possibly could have been a foul, the ball squirmed free and Our Th'Albert poked the ball in from a centimetre. It was no more than they deserved, Villa were gettin plenty of success down both flanks with Alan Hutton being extremely dangerous (yest Hutton dangerous, that is how bad we were)
The second came 10 minutes before half time when Mr Madley deemed McGeady to have fouled Adomah, was level with it never in a billion years was it a penalty, however Mr Madley who I think is a decent referee except when a so called smaller club is playing at a big clubs ground syndrome, gave the kick, the away support was less than impressed as were the players, apparently the liner wanted to over rule the ref but you don't change your mind when you at a big ground.
So two down at half time, we ain't winning this, slight positional change seemed to work, McGeady had our first shot of note although jut before half time a looping header from Hugill went just wide.
Horgan replaced Robinson and within five minutes we were back in the game, it was a non too shabby goal by Hugill, the big man picked the ball about 40 yards out advanced on goal, cut inside before unleashing a rocket past ex North End keeper Sam Johnstone, game on. Villa had not posed as much of a threat but were still dangerous on the break but with 14 minutes left it was all square, North End got a corner took it short and McGeady cross was perfect as was Hugill header 2 all..
Villa pressed forward apart from a cross which missed everyone for North End Browne had a header well saved by Johnstone.
In the end fair result takes us to 40 points still in the mix for the end of season party.
One other worthy point of note Beckford didn't get sent off.

Aston Villa 2 Preston North End 2 Att 32400

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce:

"We had a really great opportunity to put them to the sword. We were terrific for an hour and every time we went forward I thought we could score.

"To be fair to them they are a resilient mob and they are epitomised by their centre-forward, Hugill, who is not easy on the eye, but is very effective.

"We gave away two sloppy goals, but the light at the end of the tunnel for me (is) the first half was easily the best we have played."

Preston manager Simon Grayson:

"The first half was as bad as we have been over the last few weeks. We didn't do the basics.

"Obviously there was an exchange of words at half-time and then we saw a proper team in the second half.

"I said the third goal of the game would be crucial because Villa Park becomes an anxious place because of the expectancy level at Aston Villa."