Aston Villa travel to the Britannia Stadium this Saturday to face Stoke City. Stoke have enjoyed good home from yet again this season, having most recently beaten Chelsea at the Britannia. Aston Villa may have poor form home, but are a much better side away. Playing on the counter has helped Aston Villa beat the likes of Arsenal, Southampton and Norwich so far this season.
However a common result for both teams have been ties, in total Aston Villa and Stoke have managed a total of 10 draws between them. A very possible result for tomorrows game.
Team News:
Stoke maybe without defender Ryan Shawcross who limped off with a groin injury against Man. Utd in the League Cup last Wednesday. On-loan, Stephen Ireland is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Aston Villa welcome back Delph from suspension with but will be without Gabriel Agbonlahor as he faces a one-match ban. Chris Herd is back following a facial injury and Ron Vlaar remains a long-term casualty.
Match Facts:
Stoke City have lost just one of their last seven Barclays Premier League matches (W2 D4 L1)
Christian Benteke has now gone 11 hours and 59 minutes without scoring a Barclays Premier League goal.
Aston Villa have conceded more handballs than any other Premier League team this season (15).
Only four teams (Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd and Everton) have won more away points than Aston Villa (12) this season.
No team has been awarded more penalties than Aston Villa (3) this season.
Since they arrived in the Premier League in 2008, Stoke have taken 2507 long throws, 1271 more than any other side.
Predicted Lineups
Begovic
Cameron-Huth-Wilson-Pietres
N’Zonzi-Whelan
Assaidi-Adam-Arnatovic
Crouch
Kozak-Benteke
Bacuna-Delph-Westwood-Albrighton
Luna-Herd-Clark-Lowton
Guzan
Match Prediction:
Stoke 0-0 Aston Villa
Both teams can’t score, it’s as simple as that. Alright, that’s a little harsh on Stoke, they did beat Chelsea 3-2. But it will be a tough game for both sides. Aston Villa will play on the counter and a good result will very much depend on our defence. If the defence can keep a clean sheet until half-time, Villa could probably nick it. But if Villa concede early again, it’ll be a similar story to Fulham.
Im going 3-0 stoke i have no faith whatsover.
*whatsoever*
0-3 to the mighty Villa. One each for Helenius, Clark and Wiemann.
2-1 Stoke, sorry but Kean has more idea than Lambert in knowledge of the game, its in these game the true will come out. But I hope I’m wrong.
Prat I am Hughes, shows how frustrated I’m getting
Bill don’t you mean hughes mate,i must be rubbing off on you.lol
Bill’s already started on the Christmas spirit
Foxy just done the schools father Christmas and 200 kids screaming I feel like a bag of nerves, yes I will have that drink mate.
Ho no you haven’t!
Ha, well done with the kids! Did you tell them all they’d only get presents if they supported Villa?
Hang on, that was a bad idea of mine, sure to ruin Christmas…
Gabby being out really hurts us, but 2-1 Villa. Stoke’s mid week game was a real test for them and I fancy Villa to have the better legs in the second half. Tonev will probably fill the role of Gabby and Baker will play over Herd given his height. Lambert has yet to play either Gardner and Helenius also, so we may see a rare substitution of one or both players as well. Nevertheless, I expect the players to come out swinging and given both teams lack of any real composure at the moment it could be a pretty scrappy game.
Lost all faith in the Lerner / Lambert experiment, 2-0 to Stoke.
Same here bws what depressing fuckers we are mate?
Lol I know good isn’t it?
Lambert was looking on the net yesterday and some of the Norwich fans were moaning about his long ball tactics at Carrow Road, it appears he is a 1 trick pony.
Mate i could think of a few choice words it wouldn’t be as polite as ‘trick pony’.
i like the line~up adam predicts, but swap moon for herd and baker plays centre with clark none of this 3 centreman midfield which we are bypassing mostly supply benteke and kovak with some quality
3 to 1 victory for villa
Hi BWS merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you to mate.
Are we starting the festiveties now, well im in happy chrimbo everyone.
Have a good one Giddy.
It would be very nice bws if the villa could add to the merriment over the festive period,but i think i’ll keep the champers corked for the time being mate if you know what i mean.
happy easter 2 all, except oohahpaulmcgrath hes auntie villa and told u so
My heart tells me we might sneak one for a 1-0 win, but I can’t see much either side of a draw.
I’m going for 0-0 too.
I definitely won’t get to see this one (and suspect I won’t be missing much) as I have to work.
Hence if anyone fancies offering their thoughts for an article, feel free.
Going by the our history at Stoke I’d say you’re about right Badger but we are just so awful at the moment but hey ho ho ho who knows?
Merry Christmas mate. UTV!
BWS, you’d be a good shout for your opinion of the game.
Any chance of doing an article after the game mate?
Merry Chrimbo to all, but I’ll do an article saying that nearer the day 🙂
0-0 is highly probable and was the score last season was it?
I can however see stoke scoring, probably created by ourselves, I don’t however see us scoring 🙁 sorry we are just that bad at the moment. I will happily be wrong on this and I hope I am but 2-0 to stoke.
Bah humbug! :/
I think if vlaar plays we might win without him we will struggle defensively. Never thought I’d say that a few months ago lol
You’d be another good shout for an opinion too NM.
2-0, or indeed anything wouldn’t surprise me.
cheers badger. wont see the whole game unfortunately mate, working 🙁
I predict a boring, infuriating and dreadful game between two very poor teams! Wont stop me watching though…god damn it!!
It’s one of those games that we are good enough to win but whether we can apply ourselves properly.
Sending tidings of good will and festive cheer to one and all at news and views.Im going to keep the faith brothers and go for a Villa win.2-1 to the Villa…..SOTC SOTA…..UTV
I actually can’t c us getting beat today and think we might just sneak it. But a draw at least.
2-1 stoke, we couldn’t score in a brothel, but have a feeling a crap clearance by Begovic might hit the back of Bentekes head and trickle in, for Lambert then to tell the worlds media “Benteke was unplayable and you can’t fault the lads effort” …… This is so so dismal !
Lol that’s funny.
bloody true though ooh agh don’t you think !
Morning fellow villans does anyone know how long vlaar’s out for?
No idea mate iv read somewhere he maybe fit for today but don’t quote me on that. I think they will rush him back asap IMO even if not 100%
It’s not as serious then like last year mate.the sooner the better in my book,i have no faith in clark alongside baker.
I’d rather see Donacien at centre half at least he has some pace! Honestly we should be giving him games now don’t think Lambert has the bottle tho. Will without a doubt be a scrappy game, first goal wins I think. UTV
I’ve been saying this about Donacien for some time. He scored the other day in the Under 21s too, header from a corner.
Just caught up on all the news and so Benteke is injured and being played injured, some thoughts
1- Lambert is a total idiot for playing an injured player who relies on being 100% fit to be effective
or
2 – Lambert is lying to cover up for Benteke not wanting to play for the club
Either way it is a mess and anyone else think this ‘injury’ has rather convenient timing with the window opening in just over a week ?
He dosnt want him injured as of in jan
My money is on the poster that disappeared for a while and has now returned. 1 of two posters. 🙂