The end of a vintage month in Aston.
And still it rumbles on… MPs are demanding answers from the police and the resignation of the Chief Constable about a certain match the other week. They’ve never been that bothered about how matches are policed before; it’s almost as though they’re looking for an excuse to demonise some people.
If you ever anted to go in the Corner Flag you’ve lost your chance. It’s been swept away ready for whatever’s happening to the North Stand. That’s the idea, but what the planners don’t know is that the North Stand was built on ley lines that give it the supernatural power to defy any attempt at demolition. It’ll still be there when a meteorite wipes out all life on earth.
It looks like Louie Barry’s being recalled from Sheffield United, just in time to be sent out again.
After the ongoing fuss and drama of the previous Euro-adventure it was a relief to get down to some comparatively ordinary matchday activity against Young Boys, even if the daft kick-off time meant a few pre-match rituals went by the board. Unai did some serious squad rotation and although that usually mean we struggle a bit, this time we got off to a good start and missed a few chances before Donyell Malen headed our first after 27 minutes.
This led to a load of missiles being thrown from the away supporters and not enough action from police and stewards because when Malen finished off a good move with our second goal towards the end of the first half. The missile throwing got more serious and some of the Young Boys started fighting with the yellow line in front of them. The match was help up for five minutes and that seemed to affect the team because they weren’t the same afterwards.
Young Boys had a goal disallowed, so did we, we missed another couple of chances and as stoppage time began we let in a goal, although fortunately didn’t look like letting in another. It was harder work than it should have been, but somehow I don’t think the scoreline will be the major talking point of the evening.
And so it proves, with whataboutery the order of the day and six not so Young Boys nicked at the airport on their way home. One of them will be staying here two months longer then he expected after a visit to Birmingham magistrates next day.
Then we welcomed those giants of European football, Wolverhampton Wanderers. They hadn’t won all season, we don’t lose at home and so the scene was set for a traditional upset. And we could easily have got one with them having a goal ruled out just about and the best keeper in the world having to prove it a couple of times.
Eventually we get into the game and John McGinn played the ball to Boubacar Kamara to score another longish range goal. That was it, we didn’t seem bothered about scoring again and they weren’t capable. Ross Barkley came on for a bit and got injured but overall the game was the sort of below-par performance that good teams win and teams who’re getting relegated lose. Mind the chasm.
