Last season’s 6-1 victory over Sunderland spurred on Villa’s survival efforts. Today it’s a rather different story for Aston Villa but a similar story for Sunderland. Aston Villa are currently in mid-table and now have the opportunity to climb into the top 10 with up and coming fixtures against teams around Aston Villa. Sunderland have improved under new manager Gus Poyet, they have been playing better and with more confidence. Yet their only win under Poyet have come at home and Sunderland are still struggling on the road without winning a single away game.
Team News:
Aston Villa welcomed back Delph, Weimann and Agbonlahor last game against West Brom. The trio may well start against Sunderland. Meanwhile Antonio Luna and Gary Gardner have resumed training. Okore, N’Zogbia and Bennett remain long-term causalities. Marc Albrighton is back following a loan move to Wigan
Wes Brown’s red card has rightly been overturned and will return to the side. Dossena and Cattermole also return after serving a three-match ban. Former Villa player Carlos Cuellar is out with a hip-injury and keeper Kieran Westwood is struggling with a slight knock.
Match Facts:
Sunderland have won just one and lost 11 of their last 13 Barclays Premier League away games (D1).
There have been four red cards in the last three league meetings between Sunderland and Villa at Villa Park, with the Black Cats being given one in each game.
The Black Cats have lost their last five Premier League away games in a row and failed to score in the last four. The last time they went five away matches without scoring was in May 2009 (six games).
Predicted Lineups:
Guzan
Lowton-Vlaar-Baker-Clark
Bacuna-El Ahmadi-Westwood-Agbonlahor
Weimann-Benteke
Fletcher
Larsson-Giaccherini-Cattermole-Johnson
Ki
Dossena-Brown-O’Shea-Bardsley
Mannone
Predictions:
Aston Villa 2-0 Sunderland
Sunderland aren’t playing well and Aston Villa are playing better. Plus Lambert has so many players back from injury making our squad much stronger and our bench can now make an impact. Lambert will change the way we’ll play against Sunderland and surely we won’t be playing on the counter today. Squad-wise, the only surprise will be the inclusion of Lowton and exclusion of midfielder Delph following both Westwood’s and El Ahmadi’s goals.
Im going 3-1 villa anything less than 3pts today & i’ll be well pissed off.utv
yep 3 points is a must at home against a poor team….3-1 to the lions.
Got to be 3 points for me, its 3-1 for me on the score, Will be in the Villa Tavern at 12 o’clock for anyone who wants to buy me a point. 🙂 🙂
We need 3 points to keep tabs on the teams above us, don’t win these games and the bottom teams start getting closer! 2-0 villa
The mackems are the shittest team in the prem at present,so 3pts & no excuses today.UTV
Agree giddy though I can’t see anything but a villa win. Comfortable 2.0 to us. Not normally this confident at home but I’d be gob smacked if we lost or even drew today.
Ooha just testing the reply box.
I’ll take you up on that one day Bill.
Today I’ll be going down the opposite side of the ground for the fun day.
Just spoke to the daughter and the grandkids are right wound up 🙂
Good to see young Gardner back in contention.
As for a prediction, I hate seeing stats like Sunderland’s, as you know it’d be sod’s law that we’d be the first team they have beaten in ages.
Nevertheless, I’m going for the win, 1-0.
I just want to see us go for them with some exciting play.
That would be nice badger 123 the kids will be OK in the pub with you, yes should be in at 12 coming from Nuneaton with my lad in his car.
Can’t do it mate. It’s too far for them to walk, unfortunately.
Just off out now.
COYL!!!
Hi everyone this should be a good day today for all the Claret n Blue crew “IN THE SKY”.Im going for a win today 3-1.Lambert should go all out and smash em.Lovin the predicted line up would love to see that formation.All aboard the Villa victory bus please ding ding UTV SOTC SOTA We shall not be moved #pride of birmingham
Ooha if your confident then we’re going to win deffo,as i pinch myself.UTV
I know man is he feeling alright good on ya Ooooh ha will Vlaar and Clark play well today to lol UTV
Jd don’t upset him mate we’ve got him on a rareity.enjoy it whilst it lasts.utv
Ha ha yep in a positive mood today comfortable 2.0 to us.
Fair enough lol. Though just seen tony moons back ouch
Ooha all i can say is he’s obviously doing something right at the training,because im still not convinced yet mate.
Nor me. Though sounds like they’ve missed a sitter! Good sign for us their heads will drop
love 2 see bacuna play in a more forward role and lowton restored back 2 full back, wing back etc but glad 2 see this more settle team selection
this will be a tougher game than if the mad man was still their manager but still gonna see us run out comfortable winners 3 ZERO and benteke grabs opener
Agreed nath.
Disappointing first 30 min. Passing is shocking from both teams. It will be more difficult than expected.
Sounds like they had better of first half ffs. Still think 2.0 to us
Whoever thought this was going to be an easy win is fooling themselves! On the whole our home form has been pretty woeful. Let’s hope the second half is a bit better. I suspect Lambert might change it up a bit and bring Albrighton on.
I really thought this game would be a formality I’m amazed tbh. Even though home form is crap still thought we had more than enough to beat makems still think 2.0 though
Ffs i hope they get it together 2nd half.coyl
Vlaar and Clark keep us in the game. What´s about Benteke? A shadow of last season.
Bring on 3 subs and win it.
Can’t believe how many times Benteke gets caught offside ffs. He still hasn’t learned from last year
Bring back McLeish! Should have brought in Martinez – look at Everton!
Very mcleish like performance just drawing our way to safety. I was right about the nil bit. Can’t believe we didn’t beat them I’d have put my mortgage on us before the match. Really poor and lucky to get draw in end
On a more positive note – we can still win this! Whip the crosses in to the big man up top!
Ooha maybe his minds on other things mate.
Another woeful home display. We didnt even look like scoring. Almost a carbon copy of the first 70 mins against Cardiff. We just play the ball sideways, no penetration and no idea of how to break a team down.
Has mcleish be reappointed!