OPINION
Aston Villa were playing their part in a fiercely-contested first-half with West Brom at Villa Park on Saturday, when they were suddenly hit with a double sucker punch just before half-time.
First Hal Robson-Kanu and then Jay Rodriguez scored towards the end of the first-half and that put paid to Aston Villa’s challenge in the game.
Dean Smith couldn’t find the inspiring speech to get his team back in it and Villa’s season looks in serious danger of petering out. This defeat leaves them in 10th position, seven points off the play-off positions.
There were some decent performances from Aston Villa – particularly from Kourtney Hause and Tyrone Mings – but a few stinkers as well, and none more so than from Conor Hourihane.
The 28-year-old joined two years ago from Barnsley for £3.5million and is homing in on his 100th appearance for the club, but this wasn’t a vintage one today.
In fact he hasn’t had a good season, despite chipping in with four goals and nine assists, and Villa fans are quickly losing patience with him.
Here are the best reactions to his performance at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon:
Hourihane is a fraud
— Dan Smith? (@DanSmith_98) February 16, 2019
Whelan putting Hourihane to shame!!
We may as well be playing with 10 men for all the effort, energy and enthusiasm for the battle that Hourihane brings! Get him off!!!!!— Steve AVFC (@stevejsimkins) February 16, 2019
Hourihane is the weak link he has no energy or drive and is always so negative when he is dropped it will be a long time coming
— Andy Greene ? (@Greeneythegr8) February 16, 2019
Hourihane will be gone in the summer I think
— Luke J (@lukeybaby1990) February 16, 2019
Hourihane needs dropping in the form he is in….even if that means a change of formation. I still think he could be an asset again for us but right now, he’s a liability ? #avfc
— Sean Cross (@sc_avfc) February 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/Wayneb03260310/status/1096802293062815744
Whelan at least tries. Hourihane has become like Hutton – a waste of a shirt.
— Son Lyme (@Son_Lyme) February 16, 2019
Dreadful, Hourihane the worst of a very bad bunch
— Rob (@robjoness121) February 16, 2019
Hourihane is one of the worst players to ever wear a Villa shirt.
— DJ (@deej_1987) February 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/AVFCandFPL/status/1096799139902488577
The decline of Connor hourihane is frightening. So out of form it's unbelievable. #appalling #avfc
— Daniel England (@Dengland80) February 16, 2019
Hourihane, that’s on you. Embarrassing. This season can’t end soon enough.
— Eddie (@villaej_) February 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/AVFC_jpeg/status/1096798156854050816