It’s good to be back at the Amex after what feels a long time, given the international break and last Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa.
Our last two games have demonstrated the reality of the challenge of the Premier League, as we have come up against two tough opponents, each on the back of a new managerial appointment in Newcastle United and Aston Villa. Nonetheless, we felt we controlled long periods of both games, but, ultimately, we were left frustrated by the outcome of both.
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United came with a plan to sit deep and play on the counter, but we felt we did well to push them back and deserved our lead. As I have said before though, it’s impossible to control a Premier League game for the entire 90 minutes and credit to Newcastle, they came back into the game, given the quality and pace they have going forward.
On reflection it was a decent point, especially with the way the game panned out with the sending off, and was further evidence that the margin between winning and drawing, or even losing, is a fine one.
That was certainly the case last Saturday at Villa Park. We knew we’d be facing a difficult environment, with Steven Gerrard’s appointment, but again we controlled the game for long periods, and had even quietened the crowd. Until they scored their opening goal late on, I didn’t think we were in any danger of losing – and if any team looked like winning it was us – but a turnover of possession has led to a goal and then it’s a totally different situation we are dealing with. To be on the end of a 2-0 defeat was incredibly frustrating.
We know we’ll face another challenge against Marcelo Bielsa’s side. We know their strengths, we know what they’ve brought to the Premier League with their impressive, high-tempo style of football, and I saw plenty from their performance at Tottenham on Sunday to suggest they’ll be a threat despite missing players through injury.
Finally, this is our designated Rainbow Laces game, in conjunction with Stonewall and the Premier League. I think initiatives like this are excellent, promoting the fact that our game should be welcoming for everyone, regardless of their gender, sexuality, ethnicity or any other characteristic.
I have seen first-hand the excellent work our club does in this respect and it goes without saying that the Amex Stadium should always be a safe place for anyone, be it home or away fans, to watch the game. However, if you do see or hear anything that is of a discriminatory nature, please don’t hesitate to report it via the channels outlined in this programme or around the stadium.
Enjoy the game.