Football Update: Blackburn Rovers vs. Aston Villa (Preview)
Sam Allardyce’s men will host Aston Villa for the first match of Barclays Premier League super Sunday. Moreover, there is only a deference of two points between them and Rovers would be bidding to go into top half of the table.
Surprisingly, these both teams met five times last season and in which Rovers won both Premier League matches, while Aston Villa won in FA Cup competition along with Carling Cup.
However, Gerrard Houllier’s team have won on three of their last four Premier League against Blackburn Rovers at their and they are again coming to Edwood Park with four matches unbeaten form
Recently, an Indian Company has taken over Blackburn Roovers, who are currently sitting at 14th position with 15 points to their name out of thirteen games.
However, Sam Allardyce’s men finished 10th last season along with Aston Villa, Everton and Liverpool. Both Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers had almost same start of the season and there is only two points difference between them, though Villa
is sitting on 9th position.
Moreover, Aston Villa has shown some immense change in their form, thanks to Gerard Houllier for taking the team from scratch and putting them in top half of the table. The visitors would be brimming would confidence as they would start with high confidence
after drawing with Manchester United at home in last Premier League fixture.
It looks like more concentration is required from the Rovers, as in recent history they have let a number of leads slip. While on the other side, Aston Villa have conceded 5 goals in their last five matches and has dropped 12 points in their last five meetings.
TEAM NEWS
Blackburn Rovers: Blackburn’s Brett Emerton would miss the game against Aston Villa because of the hamstring which he sustained during international duty.
Blackburn Rovers: Robinson, Chimbonda, Nelsen, Goulon, Samba, EH Diouf, Jones, Givet, Pedersen, Dunn, Emerton, Hoilett, Kalinic, Roberts, MB Diouf, Hanley, Linganzi, Bunn.
Aston Villa: Arsenal legendary midfield and FIFA World Cup 1998 winner, Robert Pires, could make his Aston Villa debut. He joined Aston Villa on a free transfer few weeks ago.
Moreover, Aston Villa’s talismanic striker Gabriel Agbonlahor would also miss this crucial fixture at Ewood Park.
Here is the long injury list of Aston Villa players which includes Habib Beye (ankle), John Carew, Carlos Cuellar (both calf), Emile Heskey, Stilian Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker (all knee) and Steve Sidwell (Achilles).
Aston Villa: Friedel, Guzan, Luke Young, Beye, Collins, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock, Albrighton, Banning, Pires, Ireland, Hogg, Downing, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, Lowry, Lichaj, Herd, Johnson.
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