13/03/16 - Aston Villa 0 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur

Another delayed blog for the same reasons as the last one, technical issues. However I've struggled to get to many games this season due to coaching U11's football on a Saturday, so when I had the chance to go and watch Villa vs Spurs on this Sunday afternoon game live on Sky Sports, I jumped at the chance. One of the dads from my lad's football team couldn't go so he kindly said that I could have all 4 of his season tickets.

So after inviting my brother and nephew, the four of us met up and followed my brother's friend, another Villa season ticket holder, up to Birmingham on a lovely sunny afternoon. The weather always helps when it's on your side and the atmosphere of going to these new grounds is always enhanced. If anyone prefers watching football in the rain, I'd love to hear from you!

So as this was the first time I'd been to Villa Park, and the first Premier League match in a while, I took the whole ground in. Checking out the ticket office, Club Shop and all four sides of the ground. It has to be said that this is definitely a Top flight stadium, a real classic. Huge in size but you can tell it's packed with history and character. It mixes the old with the new, and the location next to the park and with views over to Spaghetti Junction at the M6 give it a real good feel.

We were in the Holte end with the home fans and right near the back. Again the view was fantastic and the only dampener on the day was the atmosphere. With a crowd of over 32,000 you'd expect it to be rocking but unfortunately the home fans are so fed up with what the team are doing on the pitch that the away fans were making more noise. Can't blame them chasing the title! They even had flares!

So the match went the way as expected with the home side losing, again, and a Harry Kane brace for Spurs either side of half time won the game for Tottenham. At 73 minutes the home fans started to file for the exits as a protest to how the club is being run. Such a shame as I can imagine that when Villa are doing well the stadium is rocking. But to see it half empty by 80 minutes was disappointing.

But the atmosphere couldn't ruin the day as it was clear to see that this once successful club have the potential and the perfect setting to be huge again.