Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers – English Premier League preview
The Villains will definitely look to get all three points as they host the Rovers on Saturday night at Villa Park. Therefore let’s take a look at what plan of action both the teams will adopt for their crucial English Premier League encounter, which is scheduled
to take place on 26th February, 2011.
Aston Villa
Currently 16th in the English Premier League table, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gerard-c14664 Houllier’s men are just three points above the drop zone in England’s premier football division. A defeat against Rovers will surely mean a relegation battle for the Villains.
It has been a strange season for Houllier’s team as they have failed to perform at their expected levels. After parting ways with Martin O’Neill before the 2010-2011 season kicked off in the second week of August, Aston Villa have looked to be a blunt weapon
in the English Premier League.
Out of their last five competitive fixtures, Villa have won two, lost one and drawn two. Their last Premier League fixture ended in a 1-1 draw with Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.
At the start of the season, Villa were seen as sure shot contenders for the Europa League places in the Premier League table but their home form has let them down.
The Villains have only notched up five wins from a total of fifteen matches on their home turf, a record that is bound to get better sooner rather than later as the English Premier League nears its eventual end in May, 2011.
Blackburn Rovers
After winning only a single competitive encounter out of their last five matches, Rovers are also in the second half of the Premier League table at the 11th place spot with just 32 points from a total of 27 matches.
A change in ownership, which took place in early December, has not reaped dividends for Blackburn so far. Their season also suffered from the dismissal of Sam Allardyce, which took place shortly after Venky’s & co. took over at the club.
Interestingly enough, Blackburn are ranked 17th in the English Premier League away form. Thus Villa will be taking heart from the fact that the Lancashire club has just accumulated three wins on the road in the 2010-2011 Premier League season.
With their last away fixture ending in a 3-2 loss to Wigan Athletic, the pressure is now on Steve Kean’s team to perform on their travels.
Team news
Aston Villa can take pride in the news that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Luke-Young-c22938. Both the Englishman
are out with long term injuries for the Birmingham club.
Expected Aston Villa line-up: Brad Friedel, Walker, Collins, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ashley-Young-c6813, Darren Bent, Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Alternatively, Blackburn http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Phil-Jones-c29903, who is scheduled to miss a further three weeks due to his torn knee ligaments.
Expected Blackburn Rovers line-up: Paul Robinson, Michel Salgado, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roque-Santa-Cruz-c31778, Nico Kalinic.
Key players
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Darren-Bent-c10358 will be the man to watch out for Aston Villa. The Villains 24 million pounds signing, which took place in the winter transfer window has already netted two goals in the five matches he has played for his new club in the English Premier League.
It is expected that Bent will add to his goal scoring tally against Blackburn’s weak defence.
On the other hand, Roque Santa Cruz will take up the goal scoring mantle at Blackburn Rovers now ever since his January transfer window arrival from Manchester City on loan. The Paraguayan international target man has not found the back of the net with the
Rovers in his past three matches but it is now a case of sooner rather than later for the bulky forward.
Prediction
Given Blackburn’s abysmal away form and Aston Villa’s squad strength, the Villains are outright favourites to get a favourable result at Villa Park on Saturday night. Prediction: 2-1 to Aston Villa.
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