Aston Villa travel to St Mary’s this Wednesday to face a strong Southampton side. Southampton are currently the surprise of the season with the team sitting in seventh place in the table. It’s been a much improved campaign for the Saints, last season Southampton were in a relegation battle, today they are chasing a spot in Europe. Southampton’s current success is similar to Aston Villa back when Martin O’Neill was in charge of the Villains.
Southampton have lost there last two games to Arsenal and Chelsea, so they should be fired up this evening in an effort to gain some much needed points. Aston Villa have tied their last two games, once coming behind against West Brom to tie 2-2 and most recently a very disappointing draw against last place Sunderland. Aston Villa have been a much better side away and this game could prove to be a little more comfortable.
Mauricio Pochettino: “We don’t have time to dwell on our two consecutive defeats because we are only thinking about tomorrow’s game. We have lost on two very difficult grounds at Arsenal and Chelsea, so now we will try to impose our values and get the win over Aston Villa. I am expecting a physical game. Aston Villa are a strong side and very good on the counter-attack, especially away from home.”
Paul Lambert: “We are 11th and there are some big clubs below us. The crazy thing is we’re just five points off Tottenham, who are regarded as one of the ‘big ones’. The game on Saturday wasn’t great entertainment, put it that way. And we were the home team. But you’ve got to have a bit of realism.”
Team News:
Southampton are without number 1 keeper Artur Boruc who broke his hand last weekend. Additionally, back up keeper Kelvin Davies is also out injured so Pochettino will have to call up third keeper Paulo Gazzaniga. Morgan Schneiderlin has picked up a groin injury and trio Gaston Ramirez, Danny Fox and Guly do Prado are also unavailable.
Lambert will assess the fitness of Austrian striker Andreas Weimann after the forward experienced a tight hamstring injury. Paul Lambert has no other fresh injury concerns.
Match Facts:
Rickie Lambert scored three goals in the two Barclays Premier League meetings with Aston Villa last season.
Aston Villa have drawn the most away matches in Premier League history (129) including the last three in a row.
The Saints have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League games at St Mary’s (W6 D4 L1), including winning the last four in a row.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have conceded just one goal in their last five Premier League home matches.
In Villa last 10 Premier League games they have either kept a clean sheet (five times) or conceded exactly two goals (five times)
Predicted Lineups:
Gazzaniga
Clyne-Lovren-Fonte-Shaw
Wanyama-S. Davies
Llana-Osvaldo-Rodriguez
Lambert
Agbonlahor-Kozak-Albrighton
Delph-Westwood-El Ahmadi
Luna-Clark-Vlaar-Bacuna
Guzan
Southampton 1-1 Aston Villa
There will be a transfer request handed in 2moz?
ive been really impressed with Southampton this season and realistically id expect them to win tonight.
interesting to see lambert has dropped benteke(or is it ‘rested’?) needed to be done really.
hope im very wrong on the result.
I did say we’d win tonight I predicted 2.1 to us
Wahooo!! Gabby the villa legend.
Woohoo from to
Benteke who?
It does some of us proud you didn’t make the “boring comment, negative result, pray/hope/beg/cry I’m wrong” speech typically posted on these previews.
Still a terrible performance. 21% possession, look lost if Villa even look to cross the half-way line.
Lowton on for vlaar start of second half. Vlaar must be injured
That’s been our season though we concede possession but get the goal and the win away. Nothing wrong with that though we do ride our luck
Typical vlarr off lowton on 1 1 why do our best players get injured all the time sack the fitness coach
There is something wrong with it though. It’s a small, small upgrade to the pathetic way McLeish played, and it’s not just an away style, we play the exact same way at home. Though Villa got hammered with 48% possession last season, that simply shows the huge change of style Villa are playing.
I still think we will get something g tonight I’m convinced
Shit 1.1
Free header. never thought I’d be upset at Vlaar going off but Lowton looked nowhere there and we look like we could concede every time the ball comes in.
Me to I never thought I’d admit vlaar being injured is a disaster. Though we all said we Shoukd of got another ch in summer in case of this. Imagine if Barry was here he would fill in nicely
Calf Injury from what I’ve read.
Here we fucking go.
Tough game just got a whole lot tougher. We will do well to get something out of this.
Get sick of seeing possession stats like todays. When did we last have the ability to pass the ball and control games?
True but it’s goals that win games not possession. Remember man city at home as classic example
Get in there I said we’d win 2.1 🙂
Thats what happens when you cross into the box instead of hoofing it out from the back…!!!!!!!!!!!!
I said 2-1 and knew kojak would score he’s going to be a legend at villa.
AGAIN a cross from the left comes in without anyone near him…!!!! SHOCKING!!!
By near him I mean there was nobody anywhere near closing down the cross
Fucking defence again why is no one there
Im pleasantly gobsmacked,get in there.i hope your right ooha
Shit I spoke to soon 2.2. Why the fuck did lambert take Kozac off straight after scoring. Appalling decision
If we last out here I’ll be amazed. Can’t deal with any balls into the box
Get in there 3.2 Delph I said we’d win saints were knocked after Chelsea
Looks like wev mugged them
I said 2-2 and I also said kojak would be subbed straight after scoring.
Lambert said we would play worse than we did Saturday and win…….Guess he was right..!!!
What i result I knew we’d win though very lucky yet again but who cares
3-2 Villa well done Aston Villa 19 points get in UTV
We won’t go down now lol
Im chuffed to fuck,well done lads.onwards & upwards.UTV
Were gonna win the league lol. I told u we’d win giddy just knew it they had injuries and were exhausted lady 20 mins at Chelsea.
Imagine if we had Barry and Shawcross. I’d be in some public toilets wacking one off. It’s save me a fortune on Viagra if we signed those 2 I’d have a permanent erection.