The start of this Premier League campaign has been disappointing for Aston Villa fans, with the Midlands giants lying in 17th place.
The season started off well with a 1-0 win away to newly-promoted Bournemouth thanks to a Rudy Gestede header, but since then, things have gone downhill very quickly for Villa. Their first home game saw Manchester United claim their annual three points at Villa Park. Tim Sherwood’s men then travelled to Crystal Palace, losing 2-1 with Palace scoring all the goals including Villa’s.
A second round cup tie broke up Villa’s dismal run of games and gave the fans something to cheer about.
The 5-3 win over League Two side Notts County provided the 26,000 fans in attendance with a thrilling spectacle. A Scott Sinclair hat-trick, a goal from debutant Adama Traoré and a rare goal from left-back Joe Bennett put Villa in the pot for the third round draw.
That night proved even more enjoyable as Villa fans made their way home to the news of a home draw against fierce local rivals, Birmingham City.
After an entertaining win over the Magpies, the claret and blue faithful would have expected to follow up with a win against Sunderland at Villa Park the following Saturday. But instead they were treated to a disappointing 2-2 draw where they were only on top for 11 minutes.
A tough trip to the King Power Stadium to face an in-form Leicester City followed, with a win the objective. Villa would have thought it was all done and dusted when Carles Gil found the net on the 63rd minute, putting Villa 2-0 up. Three goals in 18 minutes for the Foxes crushed Villa and sent the Lions home with their tails between their legs.
With the West Bromwich Albion game preceding the City cup tie, all expectations were for a Villa win and double derby victories. Again, the fans were let down as Villa came up short against their local rivals, losing 1-0 thanks to a Saido Berahino goal.
The only consolation was that the next game was a game Villa fans had been longing for since the Blues were relegated in 2011.
It was a much anticipated fixture which resulted in a 1-0 win for the Villans, with Gestede providing the lethal blow, earning Birmingham’s most successful club a place in the fourth round and the all-important bragging rights for the fans.
Rudy Gestede scores against Birmingham with a trademark header! It would be rude not to… pic.twitter.com/hhcdrdZtzT
— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) September 22, 2015
After waiting four years for a Second City Derby it was always going to be a massive game for both sets of fans. Those wearing claret and blue celebrated by singing “the city is ours”.
It is fitting that Villa’s main source of joy this season comes from a competition connected so well with the club. Villa, a founding member of the Football League, won the inaugural competition against Rotherham United in 1961, beating the Yorkshire side 3-2 over two legs.
Over the years, Villa have enjoyed great success in the competition winning it four more times (1975, 1977, 1994, 1996) and featuring as finalists as recently as 2010.
Up next in the Premier League, the Villans travel to Anfield on Saturday to take on an underperforming Liverpool side. In recent seasons, Villa have got some good results against the Reds, including a 3-1 win in 2012. It is the perfect fixture for Villa to get their league campaign back on track, but Liverpool fans will hope their fortunes will improve, especially after only narrowing advancing in the League Cup, beating League Two Carlisle United 3-2 on penalties.
Villa’s League Cup journey will continue with a trip to the South Coast to face fellow Premier League side Southampton.
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