WHEN it comes to waging war on the whingers, there’s nothing better than winning football matches – with Aston Villa feeling ‘smiles better’ after their first back to back victories of the season.
Gerard Houllier has threatened to “bomb out” any moaners who threaten to disrupt the new found harmony in the claret and blue dressing room.
Well, he shouldn’t have any sulky faces on the field or in the stands to worry about if Villa can maintain the momentum of a potentially season-transforming week.
Successive successes in the Premier League for the first time since Martin O’Neill’s men beat Hull, Blues and Portsmouth last April have catapulted Villa up to 13th.
Never mind unlucky for some, Villa are quite happy about the upturn in fortunes of seven points from nine – providing they can keep it up.
Houllier had no qualms about changing a winning team and rotating his squad following Saturday’s confidence restoring victory over Manchester City at Villa Park.
In stark contrast to predecessor Martin O’Neill’s policy of keeping faith with the same side, Houllier has now used a Premier League high of 29 players this season.
Following the completion of his work permit, Jean Makoun was handed a debut with skipper Stiliyan Petrov demoted to the bench with a slight knee problem.
There was also a shock senior bow for reserve team rookie Nathan Baker who was drafted in at left-back in place of hamstring injury victim Ciaran Clark.
If the luxury of resting Marc Albrighton and recalling Nigel Reo-Coker highlighted the increased options across the squad, then Baker’s presence exposed the lack of experienced No.3 cover.
Baker is better known for flogging Carling Cup final tickets on Facebook last year – and Wigan could have done with his sales patter with a low crowd of 16,442.
In fairness to the 19-year-old left-footer and Makoun, who had only trained once with his new team-mates, they played their part in a determined battling display.
It’s too early to expect Makoun to knit Villa’s play together as stylishly as his trademark diamond jumper – but a debut booking characterised his combative play.
