Carew to terrorise 'midget gems' ?

A HOME defeat to Middlesbrough is not exactly what the doctor ordered. Not unless you go by the name of Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen.

Arsenal and Manchester United next up. Crikey.

If John Carew's hip injury isn't too bad, and it at least required a scan today, then Villa can win at The Emirates. Just remember he terrorised their diminutive centre-backs at Villa Park last season.

Villa go to north London unbeaten on the ground.

Luke Young should be fine and Stiliyan Petrov can't be far away from full fitness. He was initially supposed to miss a fortnight's action after damaging his hamstring against Blackburn.

I should have some idea tomorrow morning after a chat with the manager.

I'll not bother whittering on about woeful defending against Boro. It's swings and roundabouts. Villa could have lost to Blackburn, could have beaten Newcastle, could have lost to Wigan, could have beaten Stoke......

Narrow margins indeed in the tighest of divisions.

My worry is Newcastle.

Not the Newcastle of 2008 and Joey Barton. (What exactly did he say to Gabby Agbonlahor? And was it cowardice by Agbonlahor not to want to pursue it? Or the warmth of human kindness?)

No, my worry is Newcastle 2006/07.

Why?

Check out their league results as they blazed a trail in Europe to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.

Like Villa, they'd started way back in the early summer in the InterToto Cup. And around this time of year they hit a brick wall.

They'd not been the first club playing in Europe to do so either.

Having defeated Lillestrom in July then then saw off Ventspils and beat Wigan on the opening day of the season.

Ok, Villa then got the better of them at Villa Park and then they lost at home to Fulham.

But after seeing off Levadia Tallinn they won away at West Ham in mid-September.

Then came the rot: a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool, home draw to Everton, away defeat at Man Utd, home defeat to Bolton....

Then in Europe a win over Fenerbahce.

Surely a turning point?

Nope. Back to the Premiership and a derby defeat at Middlesbrough and a home draw with Charlton...

Back in the UEFA Cup and an away win at Palermo....

Back to the league and a home loss to Sheff Utd, a goalless draw at Man City and a creditable draw at Arsenal- but still no league wins.

Back in the UEFA Cup and a home win over Celta Vigo.

Then finally a win over Portsmouth in the Premier League at home in late November.

Villa's form is never that bad, although a third defeat on the trot in the league has not happened since March (following a home draw to Middlesbrough that was more than a tad fortunate).

No time for alarm bells just yet though. Still fifth in the table. And Manchester United will come to Villa Park and be beaten one day.

The law of averages says so.