Aston Villa: Journalist makes new Champions League prediction after Villa Park development
Aston Villa have a “massive chance” of securing a Champions League place if they can get back into a rhythm at home, according to Dan Bardell.
Villa had been in excellent form at Villa Park since February 2023, having gone 11 months unbeaten before a defeat to Newcastle United on 30 January saw them go three games without a home victory.
But Unai Emery’s side got back to winning ways in front of their own fans against Nottingham Forest on 24 February, securing a 4-2 win to cement their place in the top four of the Premier League.
Bardell was pleased with how the Villans boss set his team up against Forest as he now expects them to go on a run at Villa Park after suffering a minor blip on home soil over the past few weeks.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “I liked the system with Pau Torres and Lenglet. I liked how Emery set Villa up.
“Getting an early goal, Leon Bailey’s on fire at the moment, especially at Villa Park. I think always when Villa score first, you fancy them to go on and win the game. They just took charge from minute one.
“Seeing the way Watkins and Bailey linked up, Ramsey feels like he’s getting somewhere near back to his best, McGinn marshaling the midfield and the defence looking more settled.
“Things were going really well and then, of course, they concede that silly goal off a set-piece on half-time, pretty much the only time Forest had threatened in the whole game.
“Then Torres goes off at half-time and they concede another at the start of the second half. Suddenly from being 3-0 and comfortable, it’s 3-2 and you’re starting to think we could be in trouble here.
“But I think the way they responded to it going to 3-0 was really promising and the fact that they reacted and won the game 4-2 speaks volumes.
“I just feel they will get into a mindset now of grinding out those victories at home. It felt like earlier on in the season that Villa were just almost turning up and winning at home.
“I do think they’ll start to get into that rhythm again at home now and, if they can do that, they’ve got a massive chance of finishing in the top four.”
Aston Villa need consistency at Villa Park in Champions League bid
There is no doubt that the home form for Villa is going to be absolutely crucial to their hopes of finishing in the Champions League places this season.
As Bardell points out, they were in a great rhythm in the first half of the campaign and they will be hoping to recapture that now on the back of the victory over Forest.
But Emery will also be looking for his side to continue picking up wins on the road after their away form has been excellent recently after some less-than-impressive displays earlier this season.
In other Aston Villa news, a journalist has shared the likelihood of Emery joining Liverpool.
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