What a game, probably the best we have played all season, even better than the Man Utd game in terms of performance.

All three goals were absolute class, Shearer's looked like a goal of the season candidate from where I was sitting.

Rob Lee made a huge difference, nearly all of our attacks were started by him, and Bellamy and Shearer's link-up play with Robert and Solano was simply awe-inspiring. Even Gary Speed had a cracking game, especially in the second half.

The defence was pretty solid, Given made a couple of howlers that could have been punished on another day but we were class apart from that. Elliott had possibly his best game since his move from Bolton, Hughes was a solid right back and Solano was involved all afternoon.

Shearer was fantastic, he holds the ball up better than anyone else in the Premiership, which allows Bellamy to latch on to the breaks we get from AS's play. And then there's his goal! What a strike, it took everyone by surprise. I honestly thought that he was aiming to knock it back across the six yard box but he unleased an unstoppable volley in the opposite corner of the goal. Not an easy strike in an open goal, never mind one with Schmeiched between it. Great stuff

Quite a contrast today, we beat the top team, and Sunderland get beaten by the bottom team (before start of play of course)

Although Villa are nowhere near as good as Man Utd, this performance was better and the scoreline somewhat flattered the Prince of Darkness' team. (Gregory looked just like a vampire with his cape when he emerged from his dark bench area during the second half)

The key for me is the first goal. If we score first we are capable of building on the lead - regardless of who we are playing, the pace with Bellamy and Robert will always pose a problem. When we go 1-0 down though it becomes very, very hard to get back into it. Luckily today we went ahead and deservedly came out with a fine 3-0 win and all the headlines on the papers tomorrow.

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2001

Answers

Astounding Performance

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2001

Too true, Shearer's goal, Paul. I think it was as good as any he's ever scored. The weight and curl were exact to get it past Schmeikel and just inside the post. Bollicks to what Aly McCoist thinks, the guy to ask is Peter Schmeikel.

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2001