It’s seven years since Aston Villa last put together such a winning run.
A 2-0 win away at Rotherham United, a side 18 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table, is never usually cause for a raucous celebration. However, the fact that a Will Vaulks’ own goal and a Jonathan Kodjia strike ended the club’s seven year wait for three wins in a row means a rather routine three point haul takes on extra significance.
After all, Villa fans will have fond memories of the last time they picked up three points from a possible nine.
Following hard fought away wins at Portsmouth and Hull, local rivals Birmingham made the short trip across the Second City in the latter stages of the 2009/10 season. And while the Clarets and the Blues are currently mired in the bottom half of the Championship, it was a very different world back then.
Villa finished the season sixth in the Premier League, a point ahead of Liverpool and qualifying for the Europa League. Meanwhile, a Birmingham side with Joe Hart between the sticks and Alex McLeish in the dugout secured ninth place.
Though The Blues had much less to smile about that April afternoon at Villa Park. James Milner’s contentious late penalty proved the difference after Roger Johnson seemingly nicked the ball off the toe of a sprinting Gabby Agbonlahor inside the box.
Yet, Martin O’Neill’s side were masters at grinding out results. It helped that they had six England internationals on the team-sheet too, Milner and Agbonlahor joined by Stephen Warnock, Stewart Downing, Ashley Young and substitute Emile Heskey.
Those halcyon days may feel lightyears away but at least repeating the three-point three-piece seven years on can give Villa fans hope that they are finally heading in the right direction.
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