Andi Weimann takes the applause of the Holte End after his winner against Manchester City in September (Picture: Getty Images)

So, how are we all feeling? I know, me too. Don’t worry, we’re all in this together.

To the rest of the world, it may be just a home fixture with Hull. But for Aston Villa, this Saturday brings arguably the biggest league game in a generation.

The repercussions could be huge – and far-reaching. Win it and we not only secure our Premier League status but potentially unlock a mooted takeover deal which could turn our ailing club around.

A draw might even be enough, realistically – but a defeat is unthinkable.


It would further demoralise the squad and supporters, may leave us sweating on other results – and could open the trapdoor to the Championship.



This isn’t our last chance to guarantee safety of course. But with trips to Manchester City and Tottenham to come, it represents our best chance.

Mind you, it’d be just like us to flunk Hull and then pull off something at the Etihad or White Hart Lane. We do have an enviable record against the top teams.

But assuming the form book isn’t ripped up, turned upside down or destroyed by some other horrible cliche, this is the one we need to win.

The Holte End needs to be Aston Villa’s 12th man against Hull on Saturday (Picture: PA)

We have a very mixed record against Steve Bruce sides, although he lost his final three second city derbies when in charge of Small Heath.

Our goalless draw at the KC Stadium in October was so bad I’ve forgotten it already. But those drab goaless draws at Hull, Cardiff and West Ham could prove crucial in the final reckoning – or perhaps failing to find a goal might cost us.

It’s these sort of headache-inducing thoughts – conducted while biting nails and nervously glancing at the league table and remaining fixtures for the 104th time – that can be banished from our minds if we can just find a winning goal off Andi Weimann’s backside or something.

It’s 20 years since bulldozers turned the historic Holte End terrace into rubble to pave the way for the all-seater stand you see today.

To mark the anniversary and, most importantly, get the players through the most important 90 minutes of their lives, a social media campaign is urging fans to bring the Holte End’s famous roar to the fore.

But which Villa are they going to see? The one that (eventually) swaggered against West Brom and Norwich and dug in against Man City and Chelsea – or capitulated to Stoke and Fulham?

It might not just decide Villa’s immediate future – but define the club’s next decade as well.

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