preview Archive

Preview: Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

By
Stuart
Published: February 23, 2010Tags: , , ,
Preview: Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

This is the game we all didn’t want and it won’t be the most entertaining of football games but never the less the games on and if the game at Selhurst Park is anything to go by, we are in for quite a game.

On paper you would think this should be a comfortable victory for O’Neill and the boys, but I’m sure Neil Warnock will have different ideas.

With Villa on a high following last weekend’s victory over Burnley and with one eye on the Cup Final I can only see a win for the home side in this game and I would imagine they will go out all guns blazing from the off just to get things done and dusted as soon as.

I expect Villa to get a few goals to, Palace had their chance of a giant killing in the first game and teams don’t usually get a second look in when it comes to Premiership teams.

Palace have sold just over 3,000 so far and some will be able to buy tickets on the night, so there should be a crowd size of around 30,000.

Stiliyan Petrov is almost certainly out of the game while Gabriel Agbonlahor is also a doubt.

AVILLAFAN.COM Prediction: Home win.

Preview: Aston Villa v Burnley

By
Stuart
Published: February 20, 2010Tags: , , ,
Preview: Aston Villa v Burnley

Burnley travel to Villa Park tomorrow to take on an Aston Villa side that are yet to lose in 2010, however four of Villa’s five in this time have ended in draws.

While Burnley have only managed a single point away from home this season and conceded a massive 38 goals on their travels – the worst in the Premier League.

With Villa playing Palace in midweek, three days before the cup final there are questions to what players will play, and who will be rested. And the side Martin picks will show his intentions for the season.

Gabby Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey are still question marks but both have trained this week. Stiliyan Petrov will continue to captain the side despite carrying nagging ankle and Achilles problems.

Burnley are expected to welcome back Leon Cort who’s been out with a groin strain. Veteran Graham Alexander, missing for the last three weeks with a calf problem, is rated 50-50 to return.

Stephen Jordan (hamstring) and Chris McCann (knee) could come back into contention but Steven Caldwell (groin) is still sidelined.

With Villa still chasing a top four spot and Burnley wanting to get out of the bottom three this has the potential to be a very good game; however I think Villa will come out victorious.

AVILLAFAN Prediction: Home Win

Preview: Fulham v Aston Villa

By
Stuart
Published: January 30, 2010Tags: , , , , , ,
Preview: Fulham v Aston Villa

Aston Villa travel to Craven Cottage this afternoon becoming Fulhams first opponents at Craven Cottage in 2010. The Londoners have gone ten games unbeaten at home, so this won’t be no easy fixture for Villa.

Villa, without a win or a goal in four games but im sure they will be looking to put that right. While Fulham havent won a game in five.

Teamnews for the homeside still see’s them without the likes of Andy Johnson, Clint Dempsey, Paul Konchesky and John Panstil. However, Bobby Zamora and Simon Davis will step up there comebacks and should play some part in the game.

Martin O’Neill will keep faith in his side that drawed at home with Arsenal in mid-week, as John Carew and Stephen Warnock are still ruled out. While Nigel Reo-Coker was ruled out for three months earlier in the week.

This wont be no easy game for either side and both will want to stop the rot in there recent league form.

Avillafan.com Prediction: Away win (1-2)

Preview: Aston Villa vs Arsenal

By
Stuart
Published: January 27, 2010Tags: , , , , , ,
Preview: Aston Villa vs Arsenal

After the week of Cup action we finally return to Premiership action and we must get out the fact we are going to Wembley next month out of our minds and cocentrate what we have in front of us… Arsenal.

Since Arsenals 3-0 victory over us last month they have gone from strength to strength and they were even top of the league at one point, however there defeat to Stoke the weekend would of hurt them.

You dont need me to tell you about Villa’s fortunes, with us on our way to Wembley, and in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

League form doesnt look to good though with only 1 point in 3 games so we must be looking to get back to winning ways tonight.

Villa will have to do so without Stephen Warnock, Nigel Reo-Coker and John Carew who are all struggling with injuries. Arsenal have no new injury problems.

This is going to be a very difficult game but if we play the Villa way and not the Arsenal way we are more than capable of getting something out of this game.

Avillafan.com Prediction: Draw.

Preview: Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa

By
Stuart
Published: January 14, 2010Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Preview: Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa

So the long awaited League Cup Semi-Final between Villa and Blackburn at Ewood Park is now just a matter of hours away. After the game being called off already due to the weather last week, fans have had to wait even longer than first anticipated.

Martin O’Neill stated in his pre-match press conferance that Villa will be out there to give it there all as we try and reach our first final since our defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup Final in 2000.

This competiton is now everything for Blackburn as they don’t have much more to play for apart from maybe Premier League survival so they will be fired up despite being battered by Manchester City on Monday night.

Villa look to have a full team ready to choose from, while Blackburn will give late fitness tests to Gael Givet and Benni McCarthy after they both picked up injuries against Man City.

Villa will have a strong official following of 5,325 supporters, which others expected to travel and try and get into the home end and theres no doubt they will get behind the lads as they always do on there day.

I don’t know how much truth is in this, but i was today told that Blackburn have only sold a very dissapointing 11,000 tickets. As i said I’m not sure how much truth is in this but would be terrible if it is true with it being a Semi-Final tie.

Also, if you are travelling to tomorrows game look out for the Avillafan.com coach, which expects to arrive in Blackburn around 3.30pm. We hope to have the Avillafan.com flag flying, however it doesn’t always go to plan on our away trips.