What a week it has been for Aston Villa fans, some sport journalist even claimed this has been one of the most action jammed week for Aston Villa for years. They might’ve been right, Villa fans ended last week on a low, following the 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. The atmosphere in the training camps have improved at Aston Villa following the suspension of Culverhouse and Karsa and the promotion of Cowans and Shay Given. Now, fans are getting excited about the news of a potential take over being nearly completed. But despite all the off-pitch news, the team has to be focused because Aston Villa lost their last four games in a row and are dangerously close to the relegation zone.
Southampton have just about let go of the gas a little bit. They sit in 8th spot with 48 points and probably feel as though that’s where they will finish this season. Despite the team having little to play for, England hopefuls Lallana and Lambert will need to continue their good form if they want to be on the plane to Brazil for this summers World Cup.
Earlier in the season Aston Villa beat Southampton 3-2, Kozak, Agbonlahor and Delph all scored. Steven Davies may face his former side today. Davies made 91 appearances for Aston Villa between 2004-2007 scoring 5 goals. He moved to Fulham for a fee of £4 million.
Team News:
Aston Villa welcome back right-back/midfielder Leonardo Bacuna who missed last weekends game because of a hamstring injury. Benteke, Kozak, N’Zogbia, Okore, Helenius and Gardner remain long-term absentee’s.
Poland keeper Arthur Boruc has recovered from a back-injury. Fellow goal keeper Kelvin Davies also has endured back problems, but will miss this game. Maya Yoshida and Gaston Ramierz will both miss out due to knee and ankle injuries.
Match Facts:
Rickie Lambert has scored three goals in three Barclays Premier League meetings with Villa, including the winning goal at Villa Park last season.
Aston Villa have lost four Premier League games in a row. They last lost five on the spin in January 2001.
Grant Holt has managed only one shot on target in eight appearances for Aston Villa (but scored with it).
Gabriel Agbonlahor has not scored or assisted a goal in any of his last eight Premier League games. Despite this he is Villa’s top assister this season with five.
Southampton have allowed fewer shots from open play than any other Premier League side this season.
Villa have made fewer substitutions than any other Premier League side this season (78).
Predicted Lineups:
Guzan
Lowton-Vlaar-Clark-Bertrand
Bacuna-Westwood-Delph-Albrighton
Holt-Agbonlahor
Lambert
Lallana-Guly-Davies
Scheiderlin-Cork
Shaw-Lovren-Fonte-Chambers
Boruc
Prediction:
Aston Villa 1-1 Southampton
The sacking of Culverhouse and Karsa will make a difference, but not a very large one. I don’t know where the goals will come from, Holt, Agbonlahor and Weimann haven’t been great as of late. However, Bacuna and Albrighton offer quite a bit of threat out wide. I think that we can get a draw from this game, we’ve been on poor form but I don’t see us losing 5 games in a row. It just won’t happen. A lot of people are predicting a draw and I’m going to go into that same boat.
I don’t think the personnel change will do much good, and Lambert’s tactics are awful. 1-2 to the Saints I’m afraid.
I don’t see any change in the Villa as a team, today more efforts probably, but again the ref will be looking for fouls from two teams out to prove things that you highlighted in your post.I’m wishing for a win on my hands and knees, do I see it , no a draw at the best, 1 -1, I gave my seats away today found some people that still believe in Villa.
Can’t see anything but another defeat , really hope I’m proved wrong , would be great to get over the line and prepare for next season , really hope there is somthing in this take over talk , done a bit of digging on this one and it looks concrete . Who knows this depressing era we have found ourselves in could soon be at an end !!!!!! Utv VTID SOTC
What did your digging reveal?
Firstly have they now sacked culverhouse & varsa? Our is that just an assumption? I’m going 0-4 saints can’t vision anything else, Lambert out Lerner out ringing in your ear.
Can’t see that giddy. Remember saints players are on the beach now and making sure they font get injured for World Cup. It will be 2.1 to us
Carnt see that happening mate,you’ve proved me wrong before but with the slippery slope we’re on atm I carnt see any other outcome. Still UTV
well back to business of playing footy 🙂
in recent weeks. certain players form’s and efforts have taken a nose dive, a shake up in coaching, i hope will give the players the pick me up needed, to finish the season off in a acceptable way. if they have been training under a dictating regime, it could be the reason, why the performances av lack effort and ability.
so tomorrow game might be the game that secures our premiership lives. gabby is vital he has both ability and effort usually, to destroy any team, so 5 games remaining this is one of three which we need sumat from ,won’t be easy because while saints have nothing to play for, they are a slick passing team, usually pressing high. if they come 2 play. it will be very difficult
villa 2 saints 0 my heart says but my head says we are deep in the brown stuff,if the players don’t improve on effort and play more with a smile. i can see other teams below snatching points, i av a funny feeling fulham will snatch a win at spurs and norwich will beat pool or arsenal.
I think we will win. Lamberk always seems to fluke a result when he has to
If Albrighton plays he has to be on the right which is Bacuna’s best position.
Lambert loves Bacuna so he will play either instead of Albrighton or at right back instead of Lowton.
We need to see something different today- maybe a new face in the team. If its the same old set up and tactics I think we will lose and the crowd will turn quickly.
Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Baker Bertran
Westwood Burke Delph
Albrighton Weimann Agbonlahor (or Robinson)
For me we need 2 forwards playing close together in the middle. Without Holt villa will be forced to pass and use their pace as opposed to the long ball to Holt and hope for the best.
We also need something different in the middle. Westwood and Delph are too predictable.
We need to see 100 % (die for the cause) commitment from the start.
All this about its been a better atmosphere at training this week is rubbish. What else are the club going to say ‘ITS THE SAME AND NOTHINGS CHANGE’.
Everything is talk until we see it on the pitch.
If we see the back four passing along the line (at home) for the first 5 minutes then believe me nothing has changed.
I’m going to give Lambert my full support along with Sid,Shay and the lads 2-1 Villa
Score could be embarrassing today lads. Southampton play the kindof footbal I wish to see down at VP. If they get comfortable they could bag 3-4 goals easy. The only glimpse of hope is that their defence has a tendancy to go missing. Counter will be key today!
3-1 southampton at a canter
No chance 2.1 to villa remember they list to Cardiff.
Gabby needs to prove us wrong today and give us a performance of the season, needs to show he cares not just talk the talk. Agree with you oohah think we will win today. 2-0 COTV..
I see our academy director is off at the end of the season.
It would seem the club is getting a total clearout, apart from the 3 that many want gone.
I totally agree with the previous comment, where if we are just passing it around at the back, nothing will have changed.
I was going to go today, but decided against.
Even if S’hampton are “on the beach” I expect them to still have more than us, as we’re utter rubbish and the worst side in the league, Sunderland apart, imo.
That said, I hope training has been better and the lads prove me wrong.
I can’t see anymore than a draw at best.
1-1, with hopefully plenty of protests after the game.
Hello fellas, just to let tees know, a lot of personal stuff going on for me, all good in the main but I’m stuck using my phone for the net which I hate. but I’m still here n still suffering with you all.
can’t see anything other than a comfortable win for saints I’m afraid. not being defeatest just realistic. 0-2
Hope I’m wrong coz we are bang in trouble.
VTID
Have u got an ipad NM
Guzan, Bacuna, Vlaar, Baker, Bertrand, Albrighton, Westwood, Delph, El Ahmadi, Agbonlahor, Weimann.
subs: Steer, Sylla, Tonev, Lowton, Clark, Holt, Robinson.
BBC sport are saying Villa cannot get the ball, all Southampton, says a lot don’t it fu:-) ‘shit.glad I gave the tickets away.
Bill I can hear the fat lady singing already mate.
cant believe there are no lambert out chants got away with it again
Early days mate.
if we win or draw lamberk will be ok. lerners plan of putting sid next to him has helped him
I see there all over us nothing new there then. 🙁
Stoke 1nill against Cardiff Swansea 1-1against Newcastle.
To say Soton are on the beach and are resting for world cup is completely wrong. Both sides going for it. I’d take a draw but can’t see it.
I still think we will mug them on the counter like we did at their place
Phew ht & we’re not behind, aren’t we shit? 2nd half nightmare coming up can’t wait bring it on.
By going for it, I mean we have for the last 10 mins
We have had a shot at goal, hurray, I’m doing a lap of honour only living room,
looks like we are going to get away with a 0.0.
In my living room .
15 mins left portoloo Strapped to my arse sorted.
Shussssssss, don’t move 11 minutes left.
35 thousand at Villa you’re jokeing mate,
i suppose the lamberk apologists will be out in force tonight
they go on how many tickets/season tickets have been sold. For example if 35,000 season tickets and tickets are sold but only 25,000 bother to attend they will still put the attendance as 35,000
Yipee a point Swansea leading shit scum 1pt from the drop not a bad day attall.Lambert out Lerner out.
I suppose all the negative glory hunters will start flooding in with the pointless possession stats now they can’t whinge like babies over losing.
Take that point, definitely an improvement from the last few games, except Gabby who couldn’t touch a brick without cracking it.
Paul Lambert’s Claret Blue Army .
good point i never thought wed lose game tbh. luckily for us its a point gained as norwich will get smashed out of sight tomorrow so a point gained
ps u can accuse villa fans of many things but glory hunters…..!!! your having a laugh
Helenius, you are an absolute idiot.
With the amount of rubbish you come out with, surely you work for Villa’s media department?
Your the only one left on here that still supports that idiotic manager.