Team has scored just six goals so far this season

The secret of a good atmosphere is giving the fans belief that their team will play well, and attempt to win a game. Until this happens, belief will continue to dwindle and attendance figures at Villa Park will suffer even more.

Attendances at Villa Park are down on a decade ago. In 2014, the estimated average attendance is 36,081, better than 2013 (35,060) and 2012 (33,873). But down on 2006-2011 (all over 37,000).

But you don’t need to compare attendances to see the Villa Park support has lost its vibe over the years. Even international fans, who have passionately watched their team play across the globe for years are starting to lose their optimism and passion for the club. I strongly believe that the No 1 contributing factor for the decrease of attendance and general support comes down to the fans’ belief in the team.

Gabby Agbonlahor celebrates scoring against Southampton in a rare moment of cheer for Villa fans

Paul Lambert has adopted a defensive, counter-attacking style of football at Villa

Villa fans watch the (lack of) action on Monday night

Aston Villa have undergone a massive transformation over the past decade: the takeover of Randy Lerner, three sixth-place finishes under Martin O’Neill, a League Cup final and relegation battles since 2010.

The mentality of many fans has also changed. Very few fans now expect a win against Villa’s up-and-coming opponents. This is what I believe is main factor to a loss of support.

Previously, any away team coming to Villa Park would try to battle out for a point as they knew they’d have a difficult game. But in 2014, Villa is now seen as a winnable game by many. This automatically puts the club at a mental disadvantage.

It’s not just the fact that other teams consider Villa beatable. It’s the fact that buying a matchday ticket rarely guarantees a Villa goal, or even a good performance.

So far this season Villa have scored just six goals, last season it was only 39. More often than not, Villa have very little possession and the opponents usually have the ball in our half.

Villa’s game plan has turned remarkably defensive, a style that very few fans enjoy watching. As a paying customer today it’s difficult to convince yourself that buying a ticket for a Villa match will guarantee a good performance and this is a tragedy.

Gordon Cowans (left) holding the European Cup before kick-off was a reminder of Villa's glorious past

Over the years, I have tried to watch every single Villa match on television or at the stadium. Yet, as the years have gone by, I’ve noticed a decline in excitement during a Premier League weekend.

Going to any game, I find it difficult to predict a Villa win. I just don’t see where the goals will come from, and to make matters worse I expect to see us defending our own goal for the majority of the time.

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