Hull 0-1 VILLA: The Winning Habit

By: Chris | December 31st, 2008

Happy New Year from the Villa Offside. And with a little help from Aston Villa, tonight should see some genuine celebration among the Villa fraternity.

Last night Villa picked up their seventh away win of the season (and third in a row) with a somewhat fortuitous victory at Hull City’s KC Stadium. As a result, we regained fourth place above Arsenal and enter 2009 in a mightily impressive Premier League position. That makes me a very happy man.

I only caught bits of yesterday’s game, but we certainly didn’t play well. We lacked creativity – as we have in a few of those away wins – and had more than our fair share of good fortune. Still, you make your own luck and it’s about time we had some.

Nick Barmby had an early strike ruled out by referee Steve Bennett for a foul on Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel. It looked a soft decision, and goalkeepers are over-protected at the best of times (except from John Terry and Jamie Carragher). But I feel Barmby used his arm to control the dropping ball anyway, so it’s swings and roundabouts.

The game was settled at the very end, Villa benefitting from another late own goal by their hosts. Before Christmas, West Ham’s Lucas Neill was unfortunate to watch his block loop over Robert Green to hand Villa three points. Yesterday, Kamil Zayatte gambled ahead of Gabriel Agbonlahor to meet Ashley Young’s low cross, but could only blast the ball past Boaz Myhill into the goal.

Even later, it seemed Villa’s luck on the road had finally run out. A Hull corner was met with a cracking header, and Young stupidly raised a hand to tip it over the bar – or so it seemed. Bennett pointed to the spot and was, presumably, preparing to send Young off for his offence. But the Villa players, led by rejuvenated skipper Gareth Barry, persuaded the referee to consult his assistant. Between them, they correctly ruled that Young did not touch the ball, but that it had clipped the crossbar.

Now Bennett has been praised by Young, Barry and Villa boss Martin O’Neill for changing his decision. But Young’s stupidity should be taken into account by O’Neill, and Bennett should have a long hard think about his original decision, and why it took a linesman who was further away to help him come to the correct conclusion. Given Villa’s league position and ambitions, Bennett’s ineptitude could have cost us millions.

As it was, another tough and lucky three points swell Villa’s bag, the 36th, 37th and 38th of this incredible season.

What with this being New Year’s Eve, I’m wondering what your favourite Villa moment of 2008 has been? Please feel free to leave your comments.

Happy New Year to you all.

Victor “Brute” Krulak, father of General Charles C. Krulak, sadly passed away on Monday 29th December 2008 following a relentless battle against illness. Before the match against Hull, the players of Aston Villa Football Club vowed to win the match for the General’s father and they did just that.

My thoughts go out to the Krulak family at this difficult time, and it warms my heart that this remarkable man was able to take with him memories of life as an Aston Villa supporter. Rest in peace.