Aston Villa host Cardiff this weekend as Paul Lambert’s man attempt to win following 4 winless fixtures. Over those 4 fixtures Villa have struggled to score goals. Cardiff meanwhile are coming to Villa Park on a high, they beat rivals Swansea in the first ever Wales top flight derby. Aston Villa have struggled at home claiming only 1 victory. This could very well be the game that changes the clubs form.
These are games that Villa will have to win if they want to avoid another relegation battle this season, and Lambert knows that winning at home is vital for a team to succeed in this league. Cardiff on the other hand will probably search for a point as they aim for Premier League survival this season.
Team News:
Aston Villa will be without a few key players this weekend. Gabriel Agbonlahor is still out with an ankle injury. Left-backs Antonio Luna and Joe Bennett will also miss out with hamstring and back injuries. Andi Weimann, who hobbled of after last weekends game against West Ham is also struggling with a hamstring injury. Delph should return to the squad after recovering from a flu.
Cardiff are only without Danish striker Andreas Cornelius who is a long-term causality.
Match Facts:
Aston Villa have gone six hours and 15 minutes without scoring a goal in the Premier League.
Cardiff have only conceded eight goals in five away games, the same amount as Man Utd (8) and fewer than Man City (9).
The only recent meeting between Aston Villa and Cardiff came in the League Cup in September 2009. Villa scored the only goal after three minutes through Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Paul Lambert and Aston Villa have made only 22 substitutions this season, fewer than any other side.
Villa have had fewer touches in the opposition box than any other Premier League side this season (135).
Cardiff have conceded fewer fouls than any other top-flight team this season (87)
Predicted Lineups:
Guzan
Lowton-Vlaar-Clark-Baker
Bacuna-Westwood-Delph-Tonev
Benteke-Kozak
Odemwingie
Bellamy-Whittingham-Medel-Much-Cowie
Taylor-Turner-Caulker-Theophile
Marshall
Match Prediction:
Aston Villa 1-0 Cardiff
Villa have to win this game, I’m sure that Lambert knows that. If Villa fail to win, or worse, fail to score. Lambert will lose the faith of fans and it will be very difficult for Aston Villa to pick up from there. With out Weimann or Agbonlahor Lambert has to go with a 4-4-2- formation. We need to create chances and our most creative players are definitely, Lowton, Bacuna and Tonev. If we can get a few crosses in, Kozak and Benteke will definitely be a threat. Cardiff will play well, and I’m sure that McKay will feel as though they can get something from this game.
I have to admit that I am well and truly expecting a result for this game. Cardiff have beaten city and been fairly decent so far for a newly promoted team but I think we have enough to put them away if we get the tactics approach and performance right.
I would hope its a 2-0 clinical complete win but i will take a messy 4-3 villa win to be honest.
just need keep the points ticking over if we are still not playing great.
The news that Weimann is injured could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. His form has been somewhat poor this season but for whatever reason he’s kept his place. I hope Helinus starts, think he could be what we’re lacking. 3-1 Villa.
I really hope we don’t run with this Benteke-Kozak partnership up front, it would be a sort of a statement of intent by Lambert – We’re going route one! (Not something I’d be relishing the prospect of).
I hope we dont play 3-5-2 again. Also hope Helenius gets the nod over Kozak.
Here here to that, Helenius at least offers an alternative to simply playing two big lumps up front (Benteke / Kozak) then playing the long ball for 90 minutes, no thanks.
Its hard to see Kozak as anything other than a big lump at times but benteke is a different story. i would prefer to see helenius given a go too. but if its benteke and kozak then i would imagine it could be a case of benteke playing a bit begind him possibly.
if not and they are both target men ..then i share others fears and would hope its from lateral crosses and not hoof ball vertical supply
I suppose calling Benteke a lump is a bit out of order the lads a quality player but for the life of me I can’t see how a partnership with kovak is going to work.
Never in a reign of pigs pudding could you see them creating a move and finish like the one Benteke and Weimann carved out at Anfield last season, it’s just not going to happen.
Helenius looks more technically gifted and offers more than simply being a battering ram, I truly hope PL goes with a Benteke / Helenius pairing up front.
If we play 3-5-2 I’d be bitterly disappointed. We’d barely create anything!
I’m happy to see Benteke and Kozak play IF we play with two wingers
But the trouble with playing the two up front plus a wideman (like who?) leave you a bit short in the middle of the park? Not that is going to happen because we don’t have any natural width and Villa under Lambert always play narrow.
Clean sheet and a few goals tomorrow, I can feel it.
3-0 Villa, and convincingly. UTV
Any think less than a win tomorrow then lamberk has to go. Though I think we will 2.0 in an unconvincing performance simply because they are worse than us
mate, if we do lose today, I really don’t know how I’ll feel because I believe this is pivotal game and no less than a win is acceptable. I’m giving myself the 90 minutes before I consider any potential consequences.
UTV
It will be the same old same old boring draw or 1 0 to city trust me
I would like to see a 4-2-3-1 line up of Guzan,Lowton,Vlaar,Clark,Baker,Sylla,Delph,Tonev,KEA,Bacuna,Benteke.Im going for a 2-1 win to AVFC Goodluck mi lads UTV
No way on earth we’ll play a 4-4-2.
My heart says it’s Cardiff and we should piss it.
If we can’t go for it against these at home, who the fuck can we go for it against?
My head says Lambert will bottle it and try and catch what we’d normally class as a shit team (no disrespect intended) on the break.
If we do and lose, the clock will be ticking.
Good day? 1-0
Bad day? a draw.
I ain’t got a f..n clue, 3 in Cardiff side will be out to do us, Bellamy, Whittingham, and Odemwingie, have we got the guts in our side to out play them, lads some have the confident in Villa more than I do at the minute, a Draw or a 1-0 to Villa and if we get more I promise to shut up. Utv.
I feel like it’s either going to be a big win for Villa, or a draw. I can’t… Hope Villa don’t lose. But then I do expect McKay will know Lambert’s team really well, so will definitely have Cardiff up for the game.
Unless Benteke is on form and saves us, we’ll lose. Other than the fluky game against City we haven’t looked like coming close to winning a game at VP all season, can’t see that changing against Cardiff tbh. Mackay will come and play counter attack and it’ll work as we have nobody to break their defence down (unless as I mentioned Benteke does it on his own and he won’t have any support from the midfield)
It’s 10am and I am about to start my drive up to VP from West Sussex. It’s a six hour round trip and it is absolutely pishing down of rain. All I want is the lads to really give it a go. A win would obviously be nice, or a draw if it is at least hard fought and entertaining.
I better wrap up warm, I have a feeling it’s going to be cold today.
UTV.
It’s always colder when we lose and drive back is always longer. Remember going to Sunderland away just after we won league for a night game and lost 2.1 the coach ride back was like someone had died.
Safe ride up Deferenz , its raining here to, only light though, have a good day in Brum.
yep, weimann being out is a blessing surely, not having a go but even he would have to admit his form has been well below what we expect of him so a resting is in good order, personally id have benched him for this one injured or not.
I too am hoping to see helenius ahead of kozack just because unless we are banging in by-line crosses which we wont be unless we go 4-4-2 which is seriously highly unlikely kozack will be wasted, he’s done jack shit since arriving really and looks poor out there although I imagine he’s a player who needs good constant deliveries which just isn’t happening at villa at the moment.
we need to win this and win it well but I could see another 0-0 Cardiff will come for the point and we will, as usual struggle to break em down, we need and early goal to allow Cardiff to push on so we can hit em on the break otherwise it could be a repeat of west ham last week.
Team news, oh dear oh dear
guzan
bacuna vlar Clark baker
westwood sylla KEA tonev
benteke kozak
no Delph which most likely means no playing out from midfield, only 1 winger, looks like we should expect more hoofball, not lookin forward to this now…
sack the fans
2 nil for villa
benteke first goal scorer
0-0
According to bbc they have had 60% possesion Ffs. It’s a joke
Did you here what sky said of there possession!!??
Well just said the game is awful cannot pass to each and that’s both team, sky have said never seen to really bad sides like them two in the first 20 minutes.
It’s like mcleish is manager for both sides. Awful
Benteke has been awful today
1_0 Villa bacuna
2_0 kozac
Phew. Still a shower of shite though by the sound of it. McLeish2.
Free kick, we cannot build and score anymore…
Keeps lamberk at vp till end of season at least now but at least we won’t go down as goal diff is better so extra point in theory.