We’re through to the 4th round of the FA Cup and will travel to either Cheltenham or Doncaster during the weekend of the 24th of January. But it was another unconvincing display from the Villans with few positives except the result.

MON opted to leave a few key players out of the squad, namely Barry, Gabby & Luke Young. Perhaps testament to the way Luke Young has played this season that he’s rested with the likes of Barry & Gabby.

Was I the only one that sensed that Ashley Young felt he should have been among that group from the way he played?? Apathetic at times, petulant at others. Could this be what happens when your name is mentioned in the same sentence as Real Madrid and £75 million?? Let’s hope he gets back to his best when the opposition are worthy of his time. Sorry, bit cynical there I know.

So to the match, hard to find too many positives as I’ve said already. Delfouneso was handed a start ahead of Marlon Harewood – surely this makes it absolutely clear that Harewood has no future at Villa?? If this wasn’t a game for throwing in a big, experienced striker to bully their defense I don’t know what is. Delfouneso didn’t get much service so was largely anonymous, but I think Marlon would have imposed himself under those circumstances and young Nathan just doesn’t have the craft to do that yet. Ironically, he briefly showed a flash of his abilities immediately before being subbed for Harewood late in the second half.

The stand out player in Claret & Blue, for me, was James Milner. Worked hard, often as a second front man, and took his first half goal very well after a clever knock back from Petrov. He also finished Ashley Young’s somewhat dubious penalty to score both of Villa’s goals.

Zat Knight continued is run of good form apart from one lapse of concentration where he was skinned by Gillingham’s Jackson on the turn who blasted the ball past Friedel for The Gills equaliser. So often the way for a defender or goalkeeper that little mistakes are highlighted by goals. Other than this one error though Zat looked a decent partner for Curtis Davies.

Reo-Coker did a solid enough job at right back once again, this time wearing the arm band. Shorey on the other side failed to impress once again. Petrov drifted in and out of the game while Sidwell sort of wandered around. Craig Gardner played out on the right for large portions and discovered why Milner doesn’t see much ball.

Friedel didn’t have much to do, but showed a more encouraging command of his box during aerial threats than he did against Hull recently.

I’m sure we’ll hear about the pitch in post match analysis, it’s fair to say that the ball did bobble up to connect with a shin pad instead of the bootlaces at an alarming frequency. That certainly didn’t help Ash’s game. It was the same for both teams of course, but Gillingham will be more then used to it.

Overall, it’s another win and progress in the hunt for silverware this season. I’m not sure that MON will be thinking much about wholesale changes to personnel based on these performances, but he should be thinking about how to get the existing players up for lower league opposition. It’s painfully obvious that if we play like this against a decent outfit we’re going to be on the wrong end of an absolute spanking sooner or later!!!