Great stuff.......but we're in deep trouble

I'm annoyed.........and worried.

Firstly, I'm gutted that we got nothing from Manchester City. Apart from the first 20 minutes against City, we bossed the game, against the champions on their own pitch. Delph and Cleverley were both outstanding, Benteke gave City problems all afternoon and Grealish continues to look the real thing. I'm furious that we should have been playing against ten men, with injury time remaining and having a penalty to win it. Yes, Guzan's error was shockingly bad for their first goal and both Bacuna and Richardson flinched and moved away from Kolarov's shot for their second. Unacceptable. But overall, it was a vibrant, 'front foot' performance, with much quality. So yes, gutted.

But I'm very worried. After the Spurs win, 'the mark' lay at 26 points and we were six points clear of it. Now, 'the mark' is at 30 points and we are only two points clear. Behind us, Leicester are only a point away and have won four on the bounce (they were dead and buried, now they are confident of surviving).They even have a game in hand over us. Hull City are also a point behind and also have a game in hand. The win at Palace will give them a real shot in the arm and they have an excellent manager and a team that is due a run of luck. Sunderland are two points away but also have a game in hand. QPR are five behind but also playing well. Burnley are six behind and are having no luck. That has to change and they still have Villa to play. Newcastle are total rubbish but they do have 35 points and them being rubbish has no relevance until we win another game.

I can't help thinking about our 1-0 defeat against Newcastle, that being I think their only win this year. I can't help thinking about our 2-0 defeat at Hull and the fact that muppet Lambert wasn't sacked before then. I can't help thinking about conceding a silly injury time penalty at Burnley and dropping another two points. I can't help thinking about the 1-0 defeat at Leicester. Oh, and the 2-0 defeat at QPR. What about being completely on top of QPR and leading at home to them, only to finish up with one point? Then there was the goalless stalemate with Sunderland and Delph's sending off, costing us the chance of winning.

So many regrets. We should not be in this mess. If Lambert had been sacked earlier, we wouldn't be in it now. What next? Well, we pray and we support any team playing the teams below us. Tuesday night sees Hull v Liverpool and Wednesday, Leicester v Chelsea. Quite simply, a point from either struggler takes them above Villa. These games are crucial to the survival of Aston Villa. We can but watch and pray.