English Premier League: Aston Villa vs Sunderland - Preview
Aston Villa claimed a vital draw against the Premier League champions Chelsea in their previous game and the Villans will now be looking to capitalize on their confidence and gain a point or three against Sunderland in this midweek Premier League fixture
at Villa Park. The match against the Blues at Stamford Bridge resulted in a now seventeenth positioned Villa, acquiring confidence and belief through their goal scoring (three against Chelsea). http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gerard-c14664 Houllier commended his Villa side’s draw, saying, “We showed
great mental energy at Chelsea. Some weeks ago we would not have been able to come back like that but we did it twice. I hope we can use that as a catalyst for a turning point.”
The draw saw http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Brad-Friedel-c7953 back in the team. Dunne will be pleased to be fit again and keen to amend the mistake he made last October while playing against Sunderland. His own goal gifted the home side a victory and now the
Black Cats visit Villa Park in the hopes of securing two wins over Houllier’s men, a feat they have not managed for 28 years in the Premier League.
Steve Bruce’s Sunderland side sit in the sixth position in the Barclays table, behind champions http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786. The Black Cats started the year in a successful manner, a continuation of their form from last year, with a home triumph over Blackburn on 1st
January. Bruce’s men have not performed as successfully in their away fixtures. Their only Premier League win away from home turf was against Chelsea this season.
Sunderland have played 21 games compared to Aston Villa’s 20 this season. The Black Cats have acquired 30 points in total, whereas the Villans have obtained 21. Houllier’s team has won five matches so far in the League, compared to seven Sunderland wins.
The Black Cats have drawn nine, which is the same number of matches Aston Villa have lost this year. The Villans have drawn six fixtures and Sunderland have lost one less. Houllier’s side has scored 23 goals in total, with Bruce’s men scoring one more. Aston
Villa must be quick to address their defensive problems, as they have conceded 37 goals so far, with their opponents of the night conceding only 22. The Villans have been shown 42 yellow cards but no red cards this season, whereas Sunderland players have been
shown three reds and thirty four yellows.
The Villans may find inspiration in the fact that they have tasted defeat only once out of a total twelve, when playing against Sunderland on Villa turf in the Premier League. The loss for the Villans occurred in 2008, when the match ended 1-0. The Black
Cats have not managed to secure a League double (victory) over Aston Villa in a Premier League season since the 1982-83 campaign. Houllier’s men have had a dismal run of form of late, having acquired only one victory out of their previous eight League fixtures.
Their stumbling form in those matches means they have obtained only five points from a maximum 24. Sunderland will be looking to secure their 11th clean sheet in this match. The Black Cats have the joint highest record of clean sheets in the League
this season along with Manchester City.
Aston Villa injury worries include http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lee-Cattermole-c21868 who are both sidelined with hamstring problems.
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