Bristol City at Villa Park, no surprises and a swagger
The last time Aston Villa won eight consecutive league matches, I wasn't even a year old. That isn't to say most wont remember, but most Aston Villa fans on social media wont remember. It was 1975 for those interested. Yes, I'm getting old.
And it feels good. The players are playing well together and the football is better. It's the little things, like trying to keep the ball, like players trying to make space and players wanting the ball. I'd not be surprised if we won today. I'd not be surprised if we went the rest of the season unbeaten.
I'm just saying that that is how it feels at the moment. It's how I feel and it's nice.
That isn't to say Bristol City wont be tough, but we always look like scoring and even when we go down to ten men, we look like we've got something extra about us. But it will be tough, but it's like we can take it in our stride. We have that swagger. We also have super John McGinn.
So, I'll be back an hour before kick-off. Until then, I'm going to hit the ski hill.
Match facts from the BBC
- Aston Villa have won six of their past seven home league meetings with Bristol City, losing the other 2-0 in August 1979.
- Bristol City are winless in four league meetings with Aston Villa (W0 D2 L2) since winning 3-1 in August 2016.
- Aston Villa have won their past seven league games - they last recorded eight consecutive victories in April 1975.
- Former Aston Villa forward Andreas Weimann has scored 10 league goals in 38 games for Bristol City this season - he had scored just 15 times in 124 previous Championship appearances (including play-offs) across five seasons before this campaign.
- Since losing 8-2 against Bristol City as Walsall manager in May 2015, Villa boss Dean Smith is unbeaten in five league meetings against the Robins (W3 D2 L0).
- Bristol City manager Lee Johnson has only managed more Championship matches without winning against Alex Neil (six) than he has against Smith (five).
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