Aston Villa 1 - 2 MSK Zilina

I was aware Martin O'Neill was going to play a weakened side for the game. I was aware that players such as Gabby Agbonlahor needed a well earned break. But I was not prepared for such a poor performance, leaving most Villa fans embarrassed to be a part of the claret and blue army.

The team had been criticised for being too inexperienced, but let's not overlook the fact that Ashley and Luke Young both started, two players from the usual starting line-up, as did Nigel Reo-Coker who may not be playing well but is officially vice-captain. Carlos Cuellar; our multi-million pound summer signing. Zat Knight and Craig Gardener too, who may not be regulars but are both expected to be able to perform on any stage.

It is all well and good having a larger squad than we ever have done but what we need is the ability to play a weakened side that can still get results. I was very impressed with Zilina, who had been described as a 'Slovakian power-house' in the Evening Mail, but they were still bottom of the group without a win. They broke us down easily and looked dangerous on every attack.

I am not one to instantly start criticising his team; there were fans around me that were not as forgiving, but I cannot help but feel that Martin O'Neill underestimated our opponents. It was clear with the introductions of Gareth Barry, Agbonlahor and James Milner that he also started panicking late-on. I was confident we could come-back and earn a point but as time went on it was obviously becoming more and more of a challenge.

The chance was there to qualify, even to qualify as group winners. But instead we must go to Hamburg and grind-out a result. Something which, if they were watching last night, shouldn't worry them too much.

Delfouneso's lively performance was a silver-lining on a terrible night for other fringe players such as Salifou and Isiah Osbourne. But he still didn't do enough to convine me that he can compete for a place with Gabby or big John Carew.

Everton next, in a huge game, and then Bolton. I only hope that we can find the form that brought us that stunning 2-0 victory at the Emirates only a few weeks ago and resume our assault on the Premiership's 'big four'.

Aston Villa's trip to the Toon...

Aston Villa travel to St. James' Park tonight to take on a Newcastle team that suddenly seems to be being praised more than anything following their dismal start to the season.

I have always liked Newcastle, despite my second team being Sunderland courtesy of my father, but in recent years there can be no denying that the club has become a bit of a farce.

Such a proud area, with tremendous fans, an impressive stadium and legends connected with the club such as Sir Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer and.. Warren Barton. Yet they seem to be doing their best to ruin all that.

I am writing this blog after reading all of the praise that Martin O'Neill has been giving Joe Kinnear and Joey Barton. I am very sorry to any Newcastle United or football fan who may not like this, but I simply disagree with it all.

Sure, Newcastle have improved of late. Slightly. They have earned a couple of better results and are starting to play with a bit more confidence however correct me if I am wrong, do they not still sit bottom of the Premier League?

Joe Kinnear is an old school manager who apparently did well at Wimbledon. I remember Wimbledon from when I was younger and despite what state they were in when he took over, I never remember them being anything but a relegation-battling side year-in-year-out. Football has advanced so much over the past decade and in my opinion Joe Kinnear is guilty of not moving with the times. He proved this with that ridiculous press conference. It wasn't only his language that leads me to believe he has no idea what he is doing, but the fact that most of what he said was utter rubbish. He hadn't even read the stories about him properly and even if he had that was no way to go about responding to them.

Now on to Joey Barton.

Barton is a fantastically talented footballer. Since going professional he will have had it all handed on a plate to him; money, respect and admiration. But unfortunately Joey Barton is also an idiotic thug and nothing more. I am all for players earning second chances, but it just seems like no matter how many goals he scores or how well he plays at Newcastle, in my opinion he has had one 'fresh start' too many. Court case after court case, one contraversy after another and a disciplinary record that in my opinion loses him the right to an easy life as a professional footballer.

By writing this I am perhaps tempting fate. Barton will probably go and bury the Villa tonight; bag himself a hat-trick then get replaced by Joe Kinnear who rounds off the win with an emphatic finish, before revealing a celebratory shirt that reads 'F*ck you Shaun Staff'.

But I very much doubt it.

Villa earn victory over Blackburn - and the praise of Sir Alex...

Alex Ferguson is arguably the best manager the Premiership has ever seen. His record speaks for itself and over the past few decades he has cemented himself as one of the most dominating figures in football. Fergie has seen it all, and that is why it was particularly uplifting to hear him say that if any team are going to break the 'top four', it will be the Villa.

After last night's hard fought 3-2 win against Blackburn, in which Luke Young grabbed his first goal for the club, the Scot said that in his opinion the only team ever likely to finish higher than Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool is Aston Villa.

Since Martin O'Neill took over, and especially since last season, there have been high hopes and optimisn radiating from the Villa crowd at every home and away game. In the pubs, the Villa fans will try and convince their mates that this is the season we do something special. It is evident that every player and every fan goes in to every game with an incredible sense of confidence; something that Aston Villa has lacked for a good few years before now.

There will always be doubters, most of them from the blue half of the city, but I think you will agree with me in how fantastic it is to hear someone like Sir Alex Ferguson starting to see the real threat that the Villa pose on the Premiership.