Manchester United vs Aston Villa

29/3- Manchester United are sitting comfortable on the top with a 5 point lead over their nearest rivals Chelsea and this week they would be highly confident when they take Aston Villa at home, especially after thrashed Liverpool, 3-0, last week. Aston Villa on the other hand are placed on the 6^th spot on the points table and have been going through a torrid time in the last few weeks of the competition. The last time both these sides faced each other was earlier this season and while playing the match away from home Man U managed to win with a convincing 1-4 margin. Man U also have a supreme head to head record while playing against Aston Villa and they have managed 22 victories in the 29 matches played between both the sides in the last 15 years and Aston Villa have only managed a single victory as the other 6 matches have been draws . Manchester United would also have a home advantage as they would have the home crowd cheering them to extend their lead at the top.

Aston Villa come into come into this match with its players low on confidence as they have been defeated in the last two matches. The last defeat was against Sunderland while playing at home and that was a huge setback for the side. Also the performance in the last 10 matches has not been that impressive as they have only managed 3 victories with 3 losses and 4 draws.

Man U on the other hand have won their last 6 matches and of the last 10 matches they have registered 7 wins with just one loss and a couple of draws. Christiano Ronaldo has been impeccable this season and with 25 goals to his name there is little an opposition can do to stop him.

Prediction: 2-0, Man U win

Aston Villa vs Sunderland

22/3- Aston Villa are just a point behind the sixth placed team, Portsmouth, and they would like to overtake them in order to grab the as there are nearly 4 teams fighting it out for the spot. In an attempt to get to the top 6 teams of the premiership Aston Villa play hosts to the 17^th placed team from Sunderland. The fact that makes this match even more interesting is that even Sunderland is just a position away from the danger zone or the relegation zone and with the safety margin being just a couple of points they would not like to be defeated. In fact the match can be an open affair where both sides would go for an outright win because they would want to achieve a target, while the home team would like to make it to the top six and are just a position away, the visiting team would like to remain in the top draw. Aston Villa have had a mixed bag form in the last 5 games with 2 draws, 2 victories and a single loss while their opponents, Sunderland, have registered only a single win and a single draw with three losses in the last 5 matches.

Having won 3 of the last 5 home matches and drawn the remaining two Aston Villa would start off as favourites but last week’s loss to Portsmouth in an away tie would have hurt the team and might have also affected the confidence of the players. They would like to put a strong performance against a team like Sunderland so that they can revive the dream of making it to the top 6 before the end of this season.                                                                        

Sunderland on the other hand would want to somehow manage to get some points off this match, even a point in this away tie may be useful as the point difference between teams at the bottom of the table is very less.

Prediction: 2-1, Aston Villa win

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

1/3- After a draw last week Arsenal would like to capitalise on the 3 point lead they currently hold over rivals Manchester United, while the second placed team travel to take on Fulham, the top spot team would be playing hosts to the visiting 6^th placed Aston Villa team. Arsenal have not lost a single match in the last 10 matches played, in fact they have lost just once this season that too playing away from home and hence it would be difficult for the visitors to challenge them in their own den. The Gunners have a good overall record against Aston Villa and also in the earlier tie during this current season they had defeated Villa 1-2, in an away tie. All these records along with the prominent crowd support might just help to tilt things in favour of the league leaders and a win could possible take them further away from the second placed team and hence give them some more space to relax and regroup.

While the home team get into this tie after a disappointing draw against Birmingham last week their focus would solely be on the upcoming home tie against Aston Villa. Also the form of Adebayor would be crucial to the side’s performance as the menacing striker has already scored 19 goals this season and is looking as threatening as ever but the side would surely miss the services of Van Persie and Rosicky, both out due to injuries. But the home side and the crowd would hope for a full three points of this tie.

Aston Villa on the other hand would want to make it three in a row after two wins in the last two matches and more over strengthen their position for the qualifying spot to next year’s European championships. However the missing Agbonlahor could well be the difference between the two sides.

Prediction: 1-0, Arsenal win

Reading vs Aston Villa

24/2- While Reading are trying to get a point of a match as they have lost 7 matches in a row and are in the relegation zone their opponents this week, Aston Villa, would be fighting to maintain their spot in the top six on the points table and qualify for the European championships next year. Reading were in a good position for the major part of the first half of this season but from the end of the first half of the season they are experiencing a defeat marathon which has pushed them in the relegation zone. Aston Villa on the other hand did experience hick up in the middle of the season but they have recovered well to maintain their spot in the top 6 though they are closely chased by Manchester City and are ahead only on the basis of goal difference.

Aston Villa would be confident after they managed to thrash Newcastle in a home tie last week and were able to finish with a 4-1 win. Also adding to their confidence will be the fact that they were able to beat Reading 3-1 in the match earlier this season. Carew has taken up the responsibility of scoring goals in the absence of Agbonlahor, as the striker is out due to a hamstring injury. A big win here could possibly put Villa a couple of spots higher on the points table.

Reading would be desperate to score some points while playing at home but for a side like theirs which is low on confidence and would be under pressure of being relegated it would be difficult to keep out the attack coming from Aston Villa’s end. Another loss could mean that the side would be getting into deeper trouble and hence they would have to pull out something from thin air and get a non losing result from this match.

Prediction: 0-1, Aston Villa win

Aston Villa vs Newcastle

9/2- There is nothing like a home win after a defeat away and Aston Villa would be hoping for something on the same lines as they return home to take on Newcastle after a loss last week. Aston Villa are 6^th on the points table and are ahead of the 7^th placed  Manchester City just on the basis of goal difference and hence would want to ensure that the spot is maintained and they can qualify for the European competitions at the end of the season. Newcastle on the other hand are at the 12^th position and it appears as though they have lost the formula of winning a match, in the last 8 matches the team has drawn 3 matches while the remaining five have been losses.

Looking at the history between the two sides Newcastle have been quite dominant as they have won 14 of the 29 matches in the last 15 years while there have been 10 draws. While talking about this season, the previous encounter between the two sides ended as a draw. But now Aston Villa playing at home can just turn the tables around and Newcastle would have to be careful.

While Aston Villa have lost their last match against Fulham which was an away tie while Newcastle drew their last match which they played at home against Middlesbrough. While the home side have Agbonlahor and Carew as players who could make a difference for them the visiting side can pose threat through Martins and Viduka. All said and done Villa would want a full three points from this match in order to ensure that they can retain their spot on the points table or even climb a spot or two while Newcastle might just be satisfied with a point off this away tie.

Prediction: 2-1, Aston Villa win

Fulham vs Aston Villa

3/2- If any side other than Derby that has struggled and is considered to be nearly out of the top league this season, it is Fulham. They are placed at the 19^th spot and on the points table they are 4 points behind the 18^th placed team, Wigan. In their previous encounter this season Aston Villa had won 2-1 in a home encounter.  Aston Villa are placed 5^th on the points table and their form this season has been good as well. Though their last two matches have ended as draws they would surely look forward at winning this tie. Fulham on the other hand managed to draw their away tie against Bolton in their last premiership tie. The history of the clubs places the tie even more in favour of Aston Villa as of the 13 matches played Villa have won 6 while the remainder 7 have been draws. Also a big problem that Fulham would face is that their form at home has been miserable and they have managed just 2 victories in 12 matches.

Fulham have been hampered by injury and to come out the position they are in it would be quite difficult for them. With the home crowd behind them they would try and get some points against Aston Villa but their record against Villa is not that moral boosting. Moreover a loss in this match would put them into even more trouble and this pressure might be too much to handle for them.

Aston Villa on the other hand would be hoping for a victory after 2 draws in the last two matches. They would be looking at a full three points and would possibly try and consolidate their position on top of the table and try and ensure their place for European competition next year.

Prediction: 0-2. Villa win

Aston Villa vs Blackburn

26/1- The only match of the weekend and this would turn out to be a stunner of one. Both teams have been in tremendous form and have drawn their previous matches against tough oppositions. While Aston Villa would be playing at home and Blackburn away from home both the teams would be at their strengths as Villa have been good at home while Blackburn have shown better performances traveling. Aston Villa are currently placed 6^th on the points table while Blackburn are a couple of placed behind at 8^th however the difference is just 3 points. Looking at the last match played between these two sides at the same venue, the home side seems to be the one with the edge as they won 2-0 on that occasion. Also in the first half of this season, Villa thrashed out Blackburn 4-0 while playing at Blackburn’s home ground.

 

Aston villa have had a tough tie last week and they managed to draw the match against Liverpool, this however has been a good preparation for the forthcoming matches and the team should be correctly prepared for the tie against Blackburn. Also Villa will be aware of the fact that a win here would take them to 4^th spot on the table which in a way will enhance their chances of competing in the European competitions next year. In form of Agbonlahor, Lauren and Carew, Villa have the ammunition to blast of any side on their day and the home fans would be looking for something of that sort from their team.

 

Blackburn would be prepared for another tough tie after they had a close match against Middlesbrough last week. Santa Cruz and McCarthy are the two players the team would expect the goals from. They would also try and get a positive result from this match as they also have a realistic chance of making to the European championships next year.

 

Prediction: 3-2, Aston Villa win

Aston Villa vs Reading

12/1- Under the shadows of the deal regarding the transfer of star defender Martin O’Neill to Italian giants Juventus, Aston Villa prepare to take on the visiting Reading at home. Aston Villa have fallen to the 7th position on the points table are equal on points to the sixth placed Everton would be fighting for their spots. Villa have a realistic chance of qualifying for the European competition this season as the difference between them and the 5th placed Liverpool is just a couple of points. Their confidence for the match would be decently high as well as they have won their last two games with the last one being a 2-1 home win against Tottenham. On the other hand Reading are placed 13th and have rapidly fallen in rankings after two disastrous weeks and two nightmare matches. Their last loss came against Portsmouth in their home ground with a 2-0 score line that was also their last match plated till date.
Villa would go into this match thinking to get the full points out of this and try and at least reach the 6 th position and then fight with Liverpool for the final European competition place. Playing at home will be great advantage considering the amount of support the Aston Villa players would get. Agbonlahor has been the most prolific striker for Villa this season and the home team would love to see him all the tricks and score some fabulous goals at home.
Reading on the other hand would like to take the match to the stretch they can manage. Their main goal would be to use this match to get some good experience and may be some points as well as their next few matches would be high testers against the best teams. Kitson is their premier striker but he needs to beware of the cards, overall a balanced competition can be expected.
Prediction: 2-1, Aston Villa win

Wigan vs Aston Villa

29/12- Two teams at the opposite end of the table with opposite fortunes and opposite current forms clash when Wigan play hosts to Aston Villa. Aston Villa were highly impressive in the first half of the season and with a place in the top half of the table, they have been fighting for a European championship spot however off late the team seems to be struggling, out of their last 5 matches 2 have been losses and 3 have been draws, the last one being against Chelsea. On the other hand Wigan had a disastrous campaign opening and found themselves in the relegation zone for long and all of a sudden they have changed and are looking much more of a fighting team and this has helped them climb to the 17^th spot and out of the relegation zone. They have won 2 of their last 5 encounters, drawn 2 and lost only 1, this seems to be the effect of the return of their star striker Heskey.

 

Wigan’s home record has been much better than their over all performance this season and hence they would be expecting to continue their stay outside the relegation zone and would also be hoping for a good show so that they can get away from the bottom part of the table. Bent has played a phenomenal role in the success of this team and a lot would be expected of him in this home tie. With the fans cheering their team’s revival, the players would be keen to do well as well.

 

Aston Villa on the other hand would take heart out of the way they fought Chelsea in the last tie and held the home side for a 4-4 draw. They showed that they had the heart to take on the best teams but in the process lost a defender in the form of Knight being suspended. Agbonlahor and Barry would be expected to net something in order to get the club a much awaited win.

 

Prediction: 2-1, Wigan win

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

26/12- Just a day post Christmas the Blues would be hosting the team from Aston Villa, this is a tough draw for both the teams as most of their Christmas would be spent practicing. The draw is also very important for both the teams as the 3^rd placed Chelsea would like to cut down on the 4 point gap between them and the 2^nd placed team Manchester United. On the other hand Villa would like to at least maintain its 7^th spot if not improve it on the points table. While Chelsea would have the home advantage they also enter the match on a positive note as they were able to manage a 1-0 away victory at Blackburn this past Sunday. Aston Villa would also be encouraged by the way they held a tough team like Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at home.

 

Chelsea for some weeks now have been playing without Drogba, Ballack and now even John Terry is missing hence they would again rely on Lampard, Kalou and Cole to provide the spark to the game and try to win it for them. Chelsea have been decent in their performance at home this season and scoring against them at home has been very difficult as well but the Blues would also like to score some more goals while playing at home.

 

Aston Villa on the other side have a fairly non depleted side with decent away performances this season, Carew has been one of their in form players and has more often than not broken the deadlock in a match and along with the team’s top scorer this season, Agbonlahor, can be a potential threat to Murinho’s defense. Though the match might be an evenly fought one, beating Chelsea in their den would be kind of difficult and Villa would settle with just a point as well.

 

Prediction: 2-0, Chelsea win

Next Page »