The difference with this Aston Villa team is that, even in defeat, there are still clear signs to suggest that thigs could easily fall into place in the next fixture.
Losing 2-0 to Manchester City, again in controversial circumstances, will hardly derail a season that has already been filled with so much promise.
Beating champions Liverpool and fellow title-contenders Leicester City in back-to-back games in October heightened expectations but City, in this type of form, always felt like too much of ask for Villa, who admittedly are still in the early stages of their own Project Rebuild. What was encouraging, however, was how, like against Manchester United and Chelsea in weeks gone by, Villa remained very much in the game for long periods.
If they can run a side at the peak of their powers so close, it’s exciting to see what follows against Newcastle United, a team struggling to land a punch even if ex-Villa boss Steve Bruce claims “the gloves are…
