Blackpool
After reaching the heights of the top eight teams in the English Premier League during the month of October, Blackpool are now going through a bad run of form.
The Seasiders are in serious trouble of dropping down into relegation mire after suffering five straight defeats in the English Premier League.
Ian Holloway’s men have not won a league match since the 15 January, 2011, and thus it is imperative that they improve their form using this tie against Aston Villa.
Blackpool lost their last league encounter against Everton by five goals to three in what was an enthralling matchup. The Seasiders are currently 14th in the Premier League table as they have gathered 28 points from 25 matches.
Ian Holloway’s team are dangerously close to the likes of West Ham and West Bromwich Albion as the Baggies are only two points behind the Seasiders.
Aston Villa
After spending big in the January transfer window, pressure is now on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 manager be in turning
the Villains around.
Presently, 13th in the English Premier League table, Villa have only collected 29 points from 26 matches. Not only that, they drew their last league encounter against Fulham by a score line of 2-2.
Regardless, Villa have won three out of their last five Premier League fixtures. Their only defeat came against Manchester United at Old Trafford. In mid-week, Darren Bent and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ashley-Young-c6813 impressed for the English national team, thus their inclusion in
Villa’s starting line up is also inevitable.
Team news
Blackpool will be without their first choice goalkeeper, Paul Rachubka, for the tie against Aston Villa. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-c29347 has supposedly suffered a knock to his knee, which might keep him on the sidelines for an extended period of time.
Similarly, Matt Gilks is also scheduled to miss the match against Villa due to his own knee problems as Blackpool’s goalkeeping department has contracted a “knee injury curse”.
Expected Blackpool line-up: Kingson, Cathcart, Adam, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell, Euell, Reid, Ormerod, Baptiste, Harewood
Aston Vila are expected to give a debut to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Bradley-c25275. The winter transfer window signing has not taken the field for his new club thus far in the English Premier League.
Alternatively, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Darren-Bent-c10358 is also expected to start for the Villains alongside Ashley
Young and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Stewart-Downing-c34221.
Expected Aston Villa line-up: Friedel, Collins, Dunne, Cuellar, Clark, Bradley, Makoun, Reo-Coker, Downing, Young, Bent
Key players
For Blackpool all the focus will be on Charlie Adam. Adam was a subject of a transfer bid from Aston Villa in the winter transfer window, as confirmed by Houllier in one of his interviews.
Thus he will be expected to prove his worth to the Seaside faithful one more time. The midfielder has been an integral part of Blackpool’s Premier League campaign thus far. As Blackpool prepare to face an accomplished side like Aston Villa, his importance
cannot be overstated.
Aston Villa will be banking on Darren Bent once more to get them the goals that will be needed to score a crucial away victory at Bloomfield stadium. Bent has already scored twice in four matches since his arrival at Villa Park for Houllier’s team.
One can expect Bent to find himself on the goal scoring sheet come the end of the match against Blackpool.
Prediction
Blackpool are in a bad run of form whereas Aston Villa have not been that impressive themselves. Thus a draw is an expected result from this matchup. Prediction: 2-2.
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