This is a big game, especially for Aston Villa. Paul Lambert will be looking to end a run of three defeats which has seen Villa falling down to 13th place in the Premier League table. Aston Villa are a point and a place higher than this time last season, but Villa will have to kick on soon or else Lambert will see his side fighting relegation for the second season in a row.
Crystal Palace are a team on a mission, under the management of Tony Pulis, Crystal Palace are picking up points and have become much tougher to play against. But most recently lose 3-0 to Newcastle over the weekend. Still, Pulis will be traveling to Villa Park with optimism, Aston Villa have only won twice at home and have one of the worst home records in the last two seasons of the Premier League.
On a side-note, Barry Bannan will face his former team for the first time this season. Bannan moved to Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day.
Team News:
Aston Villa will be without Christian Benteke for the festive season, he is struggling with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Ron Vlaar continues to be a serious doubt, it looks very unlikely he’ll feature. Ashley Westwood is serving a one match suspension whilst Agbonlahor is available again following his recent suspension.
Crystal Palace will be without striker Chamakh who serves a one-match ban. Midfielders Dikgacoi and O’Keefe are still ruled out with muscle injuries.
Match Facts:
Aston Villa have failed to score in four of their last five Barclays Premier League home games.
None of the last 13 matches in all competitions between Villa and Palace has ended as an away win (seven home wins, six draws).
Aston Villa took part in the highest scoring Premier League game on December 26 when they drew 4-4 with Chelsea in 2007.
This match will see the two sides with the lowest average possession figures in the 2013-14 Premier League season face one another – Crystal Palace (40.3%) and Aston Villa (42.2%)
Aston Villa have scored only one goal in the first half of their last 12 Premier League matches.
Maroaune Chamakh has attempted only five shots on target in 1239 minutes of Premier League action this season, but he’s scored with four of these shots.
Predicted Lineups:
Guzan
Lowton-Baker-Clark-Luna
El Ahmadi-Sylla-Delph
Albrighton——-Agbonlahor
Kozak
Gayle-Jerome
Bannan-Jedinak-Ward-Puncheon
Mariappa-Gabbidon-Delaney-Moxey
Speroni
Match Prediction:
Aston Villa 2-1 Crystal Palace
Firstly, Aston Villa need to win this game. We’ll be in serious trouble if we don’t, we have a good run of fixtures coming up and the players need confidence from a victory against Palace. I reckon we’re more of a threat with Kozak up front, I never thought I’d say that at this point in the season. Agbonlahor and Albrighton remain our most creative players. Palace will be tough, I wouldn’t be surprised if they snatched a draw but I just don’t see too much of a goal threat from Palace. If the defence can be some-what decent, we’ll manage to get the 3 points.
Am i reading right or is the whisky kicking in villa posession 81%.
Yep shows how shit they are
Ooha this should be 3pts deffo mate we won’t get teams this piss poor surely.
Sunderland winning at Everton Ffs. And Everton are down to ten men shit
Agree mate. Watching live in local and I’m losing the will to live. Thank fuck it’s half time it so boring its untrue. Both teams really are as bad as each other fair result so far. Lamberk has to go end of
Yeh, no shots on target yet though! Anyone spot a problem?!
Yep iv spotted the problem. Were shit too lol
hi guys, not watching the game, working :/
mentioned it on another thread but does anyone know when the last time we won a boxing day game at VP? ive been to loads of em but cant remember when we last won one of these, also when was the last time we won any boxing day match? just curious.
and p.s Christ villa come on!!
Derby 2 0 Gregory was manager didnt we beat Tottenham 2 1 as well laursen scoring thats it
Completely disappointing affair. We are not capable of creating clear chances. Its really bad. We are fortunate that Bannan is on the other side, cause with his mistimed passes he is doing us a favour. Based on 1st half we have to be satisfied with 1 point.
Dull as fuck game,lads it’s going to be a long & hard season ahead.absolutely no insentive to pay good money at the gate spent it on malt whisky get it down yer.happy days.
A friend of mine has gone she says people around her can’t even be bothered to cheer and falling asleep. Just awful.
It’s a very unhappy place atm,i thought the commentator at the game was calling the samaritans mate.
Guzan saving us at home to palace fuckin joke
I see swansea playing well at chelski,shite watch out sat.
Can’t believe vp arnt calling for lamberks head yet. Disgrace
Ooha i find it remarkable how they haven’t jumped on him yet mate all my villa mates in kiddy want rid & that’s a good number who many are at the game so there will be questions when i meet up.it’s beyond a joke.
Lambert “I thought we were really strong today, very tight defensively, and we were unlucky going forward. The ref had a poor game today but he’s only human. The team is really developing a cohesion. I’m proud of them all. We’ll be alright. “
Palace one up.
Un-fucking-believable.
Lambert out!
LAMBERT FUCK OFF LAMBERT FUCK OFF
Ssn. Massive boos.
Just watching in a pub of villa fans just silence and disbelief. Lamberk has to go
He has to walk after this or be sacked, fucking joke!! Proper ruined my boxing day the Villa!
LAMBERT OUT!
LERNER OUT!
I really hope he’s fucked off before i lose it.it’s going frm bad to worse now open your fucking eyes yank.
What did I say fucking disgusting, he has to go NOW, we was conned of having a twat like him, J D now what do you say?
unacceptable performance. We had no clear goal opportunities. If you can´t win a game don´t loose it. But we are so naïve its incredible. Something has to happen. I am fed up with all these poor performances.
Fuck him off fuck him off.what a load of bollox championship fodder at best fuck him off.i can’t take no more of this dross fuck him off swansea next 0-8 without a shadow of doubt fuck him off.
Delph on his own for the goal for FUCK sake, Delph!!! Lambert needs to fucking go tonight!
What a load of fucking shite….the best team won, and that tells you everything!
Fuck off Lerner, the Villa is OURS
Any twat that comes on here now be were I’ve said from day one we have a idiot running our club , now say we don’t, he’s a disgrace to the name of football, its my club fuck him off now.