Breakaways- not the biscuits

It was the worst defending I have seen by anyone this season and probably a good few years... well alright since Derby County last season.

Gabby Agbonlahor went jogging down the wing at such a leisurely pace that you half- expected to see his labrador on a lead at his ankles.

There he was into the box and then sidefooting into the net off the keeper's elbow, all with no support in sight.

Maybe Hoefkens thought Gabby was getting a little too frisky? Maybe that is why he was quite prepared to see him trot away into the distance?

I'm just wondering though whether Agbonlahor managed to get Carl Hoefkens' vest and shirt after the match, because he was clearly intent on getting it in the incident that led to crucial first goal.

It was like watching one of those 1980s stage magicians who can take off a man's underpants over his shoulders without removing his trousers or shirt.

Crucial decisions. And I've not even got to the allegedly feintest of touches by Ashley Young's studs on the ball in the box. Young appears intent on making Steve Bennett fret right up until the last seconds of matches.

Scott Carson got all the post-match stick. But the blame should have gone squarely in Leon Barnett and the rest of the back four.

'Twas a pity for Albion because they were the better side with the football. But such poor defending happened on several occasions - remember James Milner receiving a quick free-kick in his own half and galloping down the wing to square to Steve Sidwell infront of goal?

Villa just about deserved the win. But it was not a pretty sight seeing Milner kill time by the corner flag in the dying stages. That's cheating in my book.

As for Curtis Davies and his goal celebration? Any player who doesn't just raise their arms in the air and offer just a few congratulatory handshakes to team-mates deserves to be put on the platform they crave and spanked. (No wait a minute, that'll just incite them)

There was a whole heap of fuss about nothing after Davies put his fingers to his lips and didn't jump around like a ten year-old whose eaten a bowl of sugar for breakfast, dinner and tea for the past fortnight.

It even made a national radio debate.

From Villa's point of view, there's nothing to moan about. Great manager, great chairman, great ground, great training hq and nine unbeaten league games.

There's nothing for the internet family of carpers to get their teeth into.... except perhaps the manager's ability to frustrate in the transfer market.

Kenwyne Jones and Roque Santa Cruz are there for the taking. Neither will come cheap. £12 million to £18 million probably. But with games against Moscow to come wouldn't it just be nice for him to bite the bullet?

And what did you make of Tony Mowbray's comments that Villa were not interested in playing football?

I loathe certain managers. I have very little time for Tony Pulis or his brand of punchbag football. Nor Phil Brown for continually wallowing in his own ego and refusing to accept that penalty decision against Villa like a man. Nor, going down the leagues, Neil Warnock for reasons similar to those given for Pulis.

I cannot be bothered with all that 'mind game' nonesense spouted about Rafa Benitez and Alex Ferguson, although Benitez does appear to have a point about David Gill and his dual role at the FA and United.

But I like Mowbray. Not just as a gentleman but also as a true professor of the game.

His side may be bottom but he doesn't hide and he will not allow his footballing principles to slide. Was there a bad tackle at all on Saturday?

Well, there would have been if Ashley Young had not skipped over Paul Robinson who would have just about have connected with the ball had he launched his attempt around midnight on Friday.

Mowbray was not suggesting that Villa were ugly and just wanted to hoof it.

He simply explained that if you want to take points off them you need to sit back, eat up the available space and rely on some solid, good defenders.

Mowbray called Villa a: "breakaway" team- which is exactly how Ashley Young summed it up afterwards.

"They have got Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor. They are a counter-attacking team. They are not really interested in playing football," said Mowbray.

"That is why teams like us are a dream for Aston Villa because we try to retain the ball and move it around. There is space for them to break.

"We all sat and watched their game at Hull recently. You can either have two teams who understand each other's play and not get any shots all game until the 96th minute, like at Hull, when an own goal decided it."

He has a point. That game at Hull was as bad a spectacle as you will ever witness- partly through Hull sticking one man up front and playing for a point and partly through Villa not being sharp enough to do much about it.

Still, you cannot lose an argument when you are winning.

And if Sunderland want to win on Saturday they'd be best sticking Kenwyne Jones on his own up front and packing the midfield. That'll make it as dull as dishwater but otherwise Young and Agbonlahor will eat them up and another three points will be coming Villa's way.

And as the weeks have gone by have you noticed how talk of fourth jhas turned to third, second or even title winners?

I disagree with Martin O'Neill. Villa are not "a million miles away", but still a good few hundred behind the big three. Fourth though? That would just be incredible.