Aston Villa half-term report: Mat Kendrick's verdict on the season so far
WHEN Villa got off to the worst possible start with an opening day defeat to Wigan it left some of the more cynical supporters fearing a relegation scrap rather than relishing another top four challenge.
It was more than just the 2-0 loss which worried the claret and blue faithful, there were also mounting concerns about the shape of the squad with the manager’s summer transfer business hardly setting pulses racing.
Despite losing arguably his two most influential players in Gareth Barry and Martin Laursen, O’Neill had only managed to recruit an untried League One teenager, Fabian Delph, and a crocked winger, Stewart Downing.
The defence, in particular, seemed weaker than the previous season with Laursen’s retirement leaving a chasm which had yet to be filled – and the boos against Wigan summed up a growing sense of doom and gloom in B6.
A defiant, morale-boosting victory over Liverpool at Anfield in the second match went a long way towards crushing the negativity as Villa got themselves back on track by also beating Fulham before August was out.
Any excitement was tempered by a two-leg defeat to Rapid Vienna on away goals in the renamed Europa League as Villa’s European campaign ended before it started – but it was later to prove a blessing in disguise.
And Villa really clicked into life at the end of the month when O’Neill celebrated a hat-trick to be proud of with the signings of Richard Dunne, James Collins and Stephen Warnock, who despite arriving to an underwhelming reception, instantly took the club by storm.
Heroes can be made in derby matches and so it proved as the bravery of O’Neill in including the three defensive debutants paid off as Dunne, Collins and
Warnock rose to the occasion to help keep a clean sheet in a 1-0 Birmingham.
Villa’s new-look mean machine went on to beat bottom club Portsmouth and progress past Cardiff in the Carling Cup, both without conceding a goal, and even a controversial last-gasp defeat at Blackburn could not take the gloss off a successful September.
Coinciding with the club’s upturn in fortunes was the bright form of England hopeful Agbonlahor, who, as well as continuing his remarkable record of scoring in derbies – particularly against Blues – grabbed five goals in as many games.
