It’s not easy to simply forget about that horrendous result at the weekend and move on, especially as a fresh wave of headlines roll in this Monday, but that’s pretty much what we have to do. Conceding 7 goals for the first time in 46 years during a season in which we were able to boast the meanest defence in the league is clearly a complete aberration, there’s no credible argument to the contrary. That doesn’t make it feel any better though.

The game against Bolton next Saturday just can’t come soon enough. However, looking at past results at the Reebok doesn’t fill me with optimism I’m afraid. Martin O’Neill has taken his Villa side there three times, but has yet to come away with the three points we so vitally need right now. It was three score draws if you’re interested.

Obviously we haven’t been there under these current circumstances and I think it’s fairly obvious that the Chelsea result could effect the next performance in one of two polar opposite ways. The closest I can find in recent history was the October 2007 1-1 draw on the back of losing 4-1 at Villa Park to Man Utd.

Once again, I seem to recall the harbingers of doom being out in full effect, Stiliyan Petrov being the focus of much ire, but then promptly disappearing under their rocks when we went on a four game winning streak, scoring 11 and conceding just 1 along the way, albeit against Derby, Birmingham, Boro and Blackburn.

Taking The Shine Off

As I say, time to look forward, but one final quick point I want to make having just pulled some statistics together for March. Amazingly, despite the horrific 7-1 beating, March 2010 still delivered Martin O’Neill’s best performance for the month, which may serve to illustrate just how bad it has been in the past!