Last week, the morale in the Aston Villa camp had been as low as ever after suffering that damaging 4-0 defeat to Tottenham.
It was all in Tottenham’s hands to finish in the top-four now and many expected them to steamroll it.
But Ange Postecoglou’s side opened the door for Aston Villa once again by suffering a 3-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
What a lifeline for Aston Villa and Unai Emery!
Despite all of that, Tim Sherwood is still backing Ange Postecoglou and his players to finish fourth by claiming ‘they are favourites’ for that all-important Champions League spot, as he told Premier League Productions (16/03/24 at 7:55 pm).
It’s a trip to East London on Sunday for the Midlands side, after the 4-0 Europa Conference League thrashing of Ajax on Thursday night.
Claim all three points against West Ham, then Aston Villa are five clear of fifth place, having played a game extra, but also with a better goal difference and that dream of playing Champions League football will edge ever closer.
You feel, in that regard, the ball does go back into the court of the boys in Claret & Blue, but not for Tim Sherwood.
Aston Villa & Tottenham top-four battle
“It was a bad day today,” said Sherwood about Tottenham’s defeat. “It doesn’t change my opinion that they are the favourites to finish in the top four this season, even though they have to play the big three.
“For Tottenham to finish fourth, the way they have been in the last few years, it’s like Man City winning the league again. It’s a major success after what we have seen.
“But also Villa have to play the big three as well.”
Aston Villa should focus on themselves
Let’s be honest, the team just weren’t at it and they weren’t tactically set up right against Spurs last week.
But one thing the team has done very well is react well to defeats.
All we can do is maintain that pressure, especially given we have the points on the board with that extra game being played.
And, let’s be honest, we are still going to need that breathing space because of the pressure we will be under in these coming months.
Those games against the Premier League’s top three are coming up, with the same applying to Spurs. You feel if any of us can get anything out of those matches, then it could prove to be season-defining.
