Forest v Aston Villa, Sunday November 5th at 2pm

I wouldn't mind Boly replacing Taiwo or Elanga here. The ball isn't sticking up front and 3 at the back would allow Aurier and Aina to get closer to their full backs.

I think Elanga has been brilliant again overall

Now we're ahead of Chelsea and just looking up at the top 10 hopefully the talk about Cooper under pressure will ease off a little. What a difference one win makes.

With better timing of pass and / or run that could've been 4 or 5 whilst NotTurner barely had a save to make.

Superb defensibly, was worried about two lefties at CB, but they were both immense, Tofs & Aina on it too.

With a less flag wavey lino we could have won by a few more.

Today's win also sees us past the 11 point mark.

26% possession? That sounds unpleasantly familiar.
The Beeb report is unflattering, I would say, crediting our keeper but also weirdly equivocal about Martinez ("embarrassed" but also "strong hand" and "unable to keep out"). I've not seen anything of the game yet, so I'll reserve judgment.

It is 26% because we went 2-0 up and then we just defended while Villa panicked.

It was more even first half, we were always on the ball less than them but we continually threatened them on the break with the lightning fast three forwards thing we do. They didn't really threaten despite their possession. We had 5 minutes after the 2nd goal where we really did steamroller them but then it was all about the defence. Niakhate and Murillo were outstanding. Odysseus has so much more confidence and presence than Turner and cam actually kick the ball, in different directions and to players on his own team. He also yells a lot. I have no idea if that helped Niakhate and Murillo or if he is going to be good but it was promising. I'd like to see a bit more fro. Sangare and Mangala but Dominguez was good. Aina was pretty good but got caught out a few times by Digne.

Overall it was an outstanding tactical performance though and we never really looked in trouble. Villa on the other hand could have easily lost that by 4.

We looked great at the start of each half. Villa are also a counter attacking side and were waiting for us to leave gaps but we were already up and played the steady game. We did look tired in the second half but villa oddly seemed short of confidence like they didn’t believe they could get back in the game. Unlike Poo-ton’s hell for leather.

Elanga was excellent but ran out of steam a little. As did Taiwo but the latter does a great job of roughing up the defenders.

Villa’s high line is rubbish and I am shocked the ref didn’t allow Taiwo to score when we robbed them in the first half. Not a chance that was a foul. Not allowing that to go to VAR was naughty.

The linos were flag happy but generally probably right.

Aina was magnificent as was Toffolo. Either one of those man of the match. Elanga probably third. We deserved the win and played it right even though we looked a little knackered.

Still would have won with Turner in goal but the Greek seemed pretty calm. Niakhate and Muriel seemed happy too but we lost composure in the second half as our midfield got tired.

It worked out. Also this is the first time we have beaten a top five team this season and also more importantly beaten villa in the premier League for the first time.

Occasionally dynamic. Mostly functional. Importantly cock up free. Above Direby’s record too.

Happy with that.

Chicago: workman like.

And oh yeah major LOLZ for Martinez goalkeeper of the year cocking up the Mangala goal. He’s a prime cunt so giggling at him was a pleasure.

Chicago: Petty.

In our ongoing comparison with last season, having slipped up at home to Luton Airport dropping 2 points we are now back Level having bettered the draw we got at home to Villa last season.

I might be on a different page to everyone else but to me, Mangala has been our best midfielder this season. Dominguez was everywhere today and Sangare was much improved. There’s no way Danilo, Yates or anyone else for that matter is breaking that 3 up anytime soon (barring injury)

Danilo might.

I think Mangala is playing a bit better that Sangare is at the moment, but it's taken him a year to settle into that and I think it's clear Cooper sees a bit of a partnership there because they both speak French innit. Sangare is not in full stride yet. It will be good when he is though because he has some skills and just looks so much bigger than everyone else. It would be nice if our midfield kept hold of the ball a bit better though.

The main thing for this season is to stay out of the relegation battle. At 12th and 7 points clear, that’s going bang on target so far.