We’ve got a West Midlands derby today! It should be one cracker of a match as well. Aston Villa played well against Liverpool in their previous Premier League game, while West Brom played their first game under Pepe Mel. Mel’s team managed to bag a point against Everton. Both teams are in similar positions in the Premier League table and both teams will want to win this one. West Brom, under Mel will mostly be playing possession football. Lots of passing and trying to break the opposition down. While Villa will aim to play on the counter as well as having their midfield push the game to the oppositions halve. Agbonlahor played superbly against Liverpool and it’s looking as though he’ll miss this game tonight through an injury sustained against Liverpool. His pace will surely be missed especially against West Brom who have, in general slow defenders. Grant Holt will likely start up front.
Aston Villa managed to tie against West Brom in the earlier season fixture with Villa coming back from 2-0 to tie 2-2. Westwood and El Ahmadi scored the goals for Villa that day. While, now Hull-striker Shane Long scored a brace for West Brom.
Liam Ridgewell will be playing against his former club tonight. Ridgewell was at Aston Villa for 7 years and made 79 appearances for Villa scoring 7 goals. He moved to rivals Birmingham in 2007 for £2 million. He was the first player, since Des Bremmer (moved in 1984) to transfer between the bitter rivals.
Team News:
Gabriel Agbonlahor is a doubt and will likely miss the game against West Brom. But there is good news, Nathan Baker is now available following a concussion obtained against Arsenal.
West Brom will be without Stephane Sessegnon who underwent a groin injury, he’ll be out for a month. Whilst Gareth McAuley and Goran Popov are available following hamstring and neck injuries.
Match Facts:
- Aston Villa have committed more fouls than any other team in the Barclays Premier League (294).
- West Brom have conceded a higher proportion of long range goals (28%) than any other side this season in the Barclays Premier League.
- 55% of the goals Aston Villa have conceded this season have been shipped in the first half; the highest proportion in the league this season.
- Villa have scored just eight goals at Villa Park this season, fewer than any other team on home soil in the top flight.
- Aston Villa have currently won 299 Barclays Premier League games
Predicted Lineups:
Guzan
Bacuna-Vlaar-Clark-Bertrand
Albrighton-Westwood-Delph-Weimann
Benteke-Holt
Anelka-Anichebe
Brunt-Yacob-Mulumbu-Gera
Ridgewell-Olsson-Lugano-Reid
Foster
Match Prediction:
Aston Villa 2-0 West Brom
Surely Villa will win this one? The reason why Lambert is under pressure isn’t because Villa are in a poor position, it’s their home form. If Lambert can find a way to win games at home, Villa will be on the up and the pressure would ease on the manager. Having said that, I reckon Villa will win. Without Agbonlahor it will be more difficult, but if Holt is going to play, he’s going to need some service out wide. Who better to get that from than Bacuna and/or Albrighton? I expect a heated contest and I hope it’ll be a very good game.
after the Liverpool Lambert mumbled some comments that put him under pressure for this one.. Yes Liverpool performance was good but it means nothing if we fail to win today and for that Gabby is a huge loss and especially for Benteke but nethertheless West Brom are just as bad.
they want to play a high pressing game which may suit us and I can see us sneaking a tight 2-1
Gabby has NOT been ruled out yet!
No. Had call he was having problems so not going for it, and that was today,
If we don’t, we can start praying again, I’m still a fan that cannot for the life of me believe we are not in trouble, I have up till now not been convinced we will be sold or that we will be no better than a second rate club under Lerner. These are bad days for Aston Villa with a deceitful American crook.
Bill…did you ever buy that box mate?
Langford read above……
I agree with Ian – Gabby is a huge loss and I’m sure he will be gutted to miss this one. Nevertheless, we have players who can fill in on the wings – Albrighton, Bacuna – if Lambert decides to play a 4-4-2. Personally I would love to see Helenius at least get a substitue today.
Today’s game is a pressure valve. If we win the gloomy mood at Villa Park will quickly disappear, but if we lose… well I fear the pressure is on and I really can’t see anyone less than a big name or marquee signing changing the clubs home form.
2-1 Villa
I REPEAT….Gabby has NOT been ruled out yet!
True he has not but his history if injuries mess we should not take any risks.
Agree Ian – Even if Gabby hasn’t been ruled out yet I think he should sit this one out. He’s been struggling with minor injuries for a while now and has already missed sections of the season. Clearly he has something bothering him and merely playing through the pain. So why take the risk especially with Benteke and Wiemann finally finding some form.
emms
connor emms ?, sky sports news, on youtube
wait might be fake, they show a contract that shows a date or 31st december 2014 but its only 29th today.
link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvcD2aqz0hg
Who?
i put a link but its awaiting moderation, its fake i saw it and thought we’d signed someone but then found loads of videos the same 🙁
4-0 villa fucking hate the baggies & have to work with loads of their idiotic followers.stick it right fucking up em. UTV.
4 ~ 1 villa
love the fact most av written gabby off b4 teams announced .
somebody tell me wot happened 2 nzogbia is he alive / does he still play 4 us or did he sneak out ???? i gathered hes injured > is he any closer 2 recovering
Being a realist and not getting over excited because we got a draw at Anfield – we have won 1 in the last eight and we have scored only 8 goals at home all season add this to their new manager honeymoon I just don’t see us getting a result.
But its the baggies mate. Course we’ll win. Championship material the baggies are!
lets hope your right MD8, although I have a felling in my water about this one… maybe its the Stella !!
feeling
Haha try switching to 1664 mate doing alright for me , Im actually confident of a win!
2 down already fuckin joke
2-0 to the villa boys tonight lads. UTV
Andi and Benteke are back in the room, who knows what might happen
01 Guzan
34 Lowton
23 Bertrand
08 El Ahmadi
04 Vlaar
06 Clark
07 Bacuna
16 Delph
20 Benteke
15 Westwood
10 Weimann
So is that a 4-4-2 or a 5-3-2?
Or knowing Lambert, a 3-5-1-1…
win would be nice but were at home so just a draw today for me 1-1 maybe 2-2
i think hes playing bacuna in the attacking midfield role, wiemann and benteke up front bacunna just behind um ~ if so i think he can play this role well 🙂
I’m punting for a Villa win tonight I have the feeling UTV lets hope the Stella Artois hasn’t clouded my judgement.UTV
woof
I’m watching it and we are fucking rubbish 2 down in 7 minutes disgraceful.
Weimann gets 1 back… Still absolutely pathetic to be 2 down to West Bromich.
Agreed why do we have to be 2 down to start playing. I predict 2.2 draw
Been questioning that all season. You’d think by now it would change… But not with Villa.
There’s the 2nd! While it’s great we can come from behind, we shouldn’t always have too.
2.2 told u we should win now
Not really surprised. I do rate Mel as a manager. But their team just doesn’t have the quality, even less than we have.
Agreed rubbish team coukd go down
Exactly like the game at their place we didn’t start playing till second half
Basically, it’s about finding a balance, if we had a good manager that could do that, we’d have far more positive articles, fans and would be pulling a Newcastle/Southampton right now with a bright future.
3.2 to villa wot a turn around thou it is WBA