Aston Villa host Cardiff this weekend as Paul Lambert’s man attempt to win following 4 winless fixtures. Over those 4 fixtures Villa have struggled to score goals. Cardiff meanwhile are coming to Villa Park on a high, they beat rivals Swansea in the first ever Wales top flight derby. Aston Villa have struggled at home claiming only 1 victory. This could very well be the game that changes the clubs form.
These are games that Villa will have to win if they want to avoid another relegation battle this season, and Lambert knows that winning at home is vital for a team to succeed in this league. Cardiff on the other hand will probably search for a point as they aim for Premier League survival this season.
Team News:
Aston Villa will be without a few key players this weekend. Gabriel Agbonlahor is still out with an ankle injury. Left-backs Antonio Luna and Joe Bennett will also miss out with hamstring and back injuries. Andi Weimann, who hobbled of after last weekends game against West Ham is also struggling with a hamstring injury. Delph should return to the squad after recovering from a flu.
Cardiff are only without Danish striker Andreas Cornelius who is a long-term causality.
Match Facts:
Aston Villa have gone six hours and 15 minutes without scoring a goal in the Premier League.
Cardiff have only conceded eight goals in five away games, the same amount as Man Utd (8) and fewer than Man City (9).
The only recent meeting between Aston Villa and Cardiff came in the League Cup in September 2009. Villa scored the only goal after three minutes through Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Paul Lambert and Aston Villa have made only 22 substitutions this season, fewer than any other side.
Villa have had fewer touches in the opposition box than any other Premier League side this season (135).
Cardiff have conceded fewer fouls than any other top-flight team this season (87)
Predicted Lineups:
Guzan
Lowton-Vlaar-Clark-Baker
Bacuna-Westwood-Delph-Tonev
Benteke-Kozak
Odemwingie
Bellamy-Whittingham-Medel-Much-Cowie
Taylor-Turner-Caulker-Theophile
Marshall
Match Prediction:
Aston Villa 1-0 Cardiff
Villa have to win this game, I’m sure that Lambert knows that. If Villa fail to win, or worse, fail to score. Lambert will lose the faith of fans and it will be very difficult for Aston Villa to pick up from there. With out Weimann or Agbonlahor Lambert has to go with a 4-4-2- formation. We need to create chances and our most creative players are definitely, Lowton, Bacuna and Tonev. If we can get a few crosses in, Kozak and Benteke will definitely be a threat. Cardiff will play well, and I’m sure that McKay will feel as though they can get something from this game.
2_0 kozac
Double phew!
Wow, massive relief. Starting to really like this Bacuna lad, 150% every game, every minute, best player on the pitch today. UTV, Top half.
We have to start with Lowton RB and Bacuna RM. We looked a different team once Lambert made that change. We had width and actually looked dangerous.
lol some muppets on ere just aven’t got a clue ~ ppl crying about kozak when hes only just arrived. talk about giving some1 a chance, ltrs muppets.
I never slag off other teams like u lot slag of thevilla lmao
Kozac is shit he was awful today bar the goal against the shitiest team we coukd of played today. Both teams were awful but a wins a win lets hope we beat WBA next. They were really unlucky today and should off beat Chelsea but were cheated out if it by ref like we were. Disgraceful
lmao ur the biggest (nonsense) ever 2 comment onthvilla ~ ur bulshit offends me and ur so funny. ur occupation must be a stand up wannabe, everytime u comment ur heckled
kovak needs time 2 settle, 2day he worked hard, scored one worked the keeper with a downward header. he showed enough 2 say u talk shit.
He is shit a complete donkey. In the comedian front when I was young I told my parents I wanted to be a comedian and they laughed….but they are not laughing now!!
Oohah you don’t talk shit do you? You never told me you did. Nath don’t talk to my mate like that.only I can. 🙂
Thanku sir bill
yeah every comedian needs his side kick, stand back ~ taking the stage is dumb and dumber,
as being a donkey u opinion matters like ur verbal attack on vlaar is unjustified so ur wrong again he kicks ass lol joke like u au revoir
I was right about vlaar being a donkey he is. But yes he has improved funny how players improve all of a sudden when it’s World Cup year hmmmmm
is that true, or just maybe vlaar is more settle and able 2 perform better, cos in my eyes hes more concrete than than ur opinions are accurate.
I don’t know much about kozak b4 he joined, but iam willing 2 give him a chance. if u r villa supporter its in ur best interest u back the guy ~ 4 once in ur life comment on things that are true and not so u get a reaction
i like Kozac, with someone like gabby in the front three instead of Tonev I feel that could work really well. He definitely isn’t a donkey nor is vlaar.
thanxs adam u restored my opinion of this site ~oohahpaulmcgrath often expresses such nonsense, u 4get that his opinion isn’t represented by all aston villa fans and that’s a relief
Neither is your opinion either
Oohaah your talking shit mate.. FFS Vlaar is playing very well and yet you are saying it is Worl Cup year.. that sums up ur attitude mate.. its a joke..
Cardiff are shit. Hull.. Palace. Norwich.. Stoke.. West Ham etc etc.. everyone we play is shite.. BUT doesn’t that mean we will finish roughly around 10-12..
As for Kozak.. we paid 5.6M for him.. why should he be awesome.. he’s decent will do a job.. problem is some villa fans want any player over 5M to be a world beater..
Things aren’t brilliant but to constantly slag of players just to make urself to look right is pathetic..
It’s a well known fact that players try harder in World Cup year not just vlaar but most players tbf. Look at benteke he would have been off in the summer if it wasn’t wc year and that’s a fact
Spurs spent 100M and have lost at home to West Ham and Newcastle without even scoring..
Some fcuking perspective people……!!!!!!!!
Man city lost away again to Sunderland Ffs. They’ve only win once away all season awful with the money they’ve spent