Our new feature for the New Year - "Away Fans" - continues this week with our visit to Aston Villa with unofficial site 'Heroes and Villains' having their say on how they think they might fare against us ...

*Site: Heroes and Villains

*URL: www.heroesandvillains.net

* Do you think you're having a good season?

No. It's been all down hill. Highlight has to be the win at Elland Road.

* Who do you think is your best player(s) ?

Merson without a doubt. Boateng's playing well and Alpay has been a revelation. However if Ferdinand's worth £18M, Barry's worth £36M. Seriously.

* Your worst player(s) ?

Dublin. Appears never to have recovered from his broken neck 12 months ago. About as useful as a motorised hat stand at the moment.

*Your players to watch (youngsters or underrated players) ?

Jlloyd Samuel (yes, that's how you spell it), centre back that showed enough promise we could sell the best defender at the club, Ugo Ehiogu.

*Your preferred formation for Wednesday's game?

5-3-2 although it'll look like 9-01 ;-)

*Your best chant ?

We're so boring, at least we now have a player that fits our only chant "Juan Pablo Angel, there's only...."

Saturday against the Scum was funny - after signing "support your local team......" Shite Dorke started warming up and it changed to "Can't get in the team, you dirty GloryHunter....." Well I laughed.

*Where do you think Villa will finish in the Premiership this season ?

12th.

*Prediction for Wednesday and Villa scorers (if applicable)?

Well, we don't lose to Leeds so I can only say a Villa victory ;-) Although you'll be pleased to hear that Southgate's out. We can't score at the moment so it'll probably end up 1-1.

Having seen all three points slip away - somewhat unluckily - at the weekend, it was our turn to have a slice of luck tonight, as we held on to beat one of our bogey teams 2-1 and move back into the top half of the Premiership table.

Despite starting the brighter of the two teams, it was the home side who took the lead on 24 minutes, when the impressive Merson beat Robinson with a low shot, after Ian Taylor had flicked on Gareth Barry's cross.

With another defeat unthinkable though, we powered our way back into the game after only four minutes. The ever dangerous Robbie Keane played a beautiful pass through to Bowyer, who slotted the ball home for a deserved equaliser. With Sven-Goran Eriksson looking on from the stands, it was a timely reminder of what England might expect, should the impending court case go in Bowyer's favour.

The result was then on a knife edge until a quarter of an hour from full time. Again Keane was involved, upended by Barry in the area to earn us a penalty. Harte, who was recalled to the side after several weeks on the sidelines, stepped forward to coolly slot home what turned out to be the winner.

It was still not all over, though. Merson managed to hit both the post and the crossbar in the dying moments - but for once, luck was on our side. It may not have been a classic but, under the circumstances, it was just what the doctor ordered.

With Liverpool thumping Palace 5-0 to reac the Worthington Cup final tonight, you can bet they'll fancy their chances of beating us at Elland Road on Saturday in the fourth round of the FA Cup. At least tonight's victory against the Villa will give us a timely confidence boost and a better chance of putting one over the Scousers at the weekend.

More Match Reports can be found at