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Aston Villa’s Poor Form Against Top Six Is A Worry

By Dean Caffrey

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Leon Clarke (L) of Sheffield United celebrates scoring his fourth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Hull City at Bramall Lane on November 4, 2017 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Leon Clarke (L) of Sheffield United celebrates scoring his fourth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Hull City at Bramall Lane on November 4, 2017 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images) /
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A poor 2-0 defeat away to Derby County on Saturday ensured that the home team stayed ahead of Aston Villa in the table and extended Villa’s winless run to three games.

In a month billed as crucial by both fans and the manager, it has not gone to plan with two points earned from a possible nine ahead of next Saturday’s crunch game with Sheffield United.

Villa still remain in 5th position but need to beat the Blades in order to ensure they are still in the play-off positions at Christmas. Leeds and Middlesbrough closing in.

A familiar pattern has set in recent weeks as the team have struggled in front of goal. This is untimely because Adomah has struggled to replicate his earlier scoring form as well, much like last season with Jonathan Kodjia.

The disappointing aspect of Saturday’s result was that it again confirmed Villa’s inability to defeat their fellow promotion hopefuls be that in the playoffs and the top two.

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A quick analysis of Villa’s results against these teams and it doesn’t make for pleasant viewing: defeats to Wolves, Cardiff and Derby and a draw with Bristol City gives us one point from 12 against the teams around Villa.

Even the chasing pack of Leeds, Middlesbrough and Ipswich has yielded just one win. Six points from 21 available is far from playoff form. It’s not just this season that these problems occur. Last season, Villa only amassed a total of 13 points from 36 available against the teams who finished in the top six.

In light of those statistics, it’s so important to beat the only team in the top six yet to play Villa. Sheffield United have suffered a dip in form themselves recently. The opportunity is there for Villa to go and excite the home crowd in front of the TV cameras on Saturday evening.

A win would be a great confidence booster due to the fact that current top six incumbents Wolves, Cardiff, Bristol City and Derby all come to Villa Park in the New Year. Destiny is still very much in Villa’s hands unless an improvement over our rivals doesn’t happen soon. If it doesn’t, there will be no Premier League return just yet.

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