This is a big game, especially for Aston Villa. Paul Lambert will be looking to end a run of three defeats which has seen Villa falling down to 13th place in the Premier League table. Aston Villa are a point and a place higher than this time last season, but Villa will have to kick on soon or else Lambert will see his side fighting relegation for the second season in a row.
Crystal Palace are a team on a mission, under the management of Tony Pulis, Crystal Palace are picking up points and have become much tougher to play against. But most recently lose 3-0 to Newcastle over the weekend. Still, Pulis will be traveling to Villa Park with optimism, Aston Villa have only won twice at home and have one of the worst home records in the last two seasons of the Premier League.
On a side-note, Barry Bannan will face his former team for the first time this season. Bannan moved to Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day.
Team News:
Aston Villa will be without Christian Benteke for the festive season, he is struggling with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Ron Vlaar continues to be a serious doubt, it looks very unlikely he’ll feature. Ashley Westwood is serving a one match suspension whilst Agbonlahor is available again following his recent suspension.
Crystal Palace will be without striker Chamakh who serves a one-match ban. Midfielders Dikgacoi and O’Keefe are still ruled out with muscle injuries.
Match Facts:
Aston Villa have failed to score in four of their last five Barclays Premier League home games.
None of the last 13 matches in all competitions between Villa and Palace has ended as an away win (seven home wins, six draws).
Aston Villa took part in the highest scoring Premier League game on December 26 when they drew 4-4 with Chelsea in 2007.
This match will see the two sides with the lowest average possession figures in the 2013-14 Premier League season face one another – Crystal Palace (40.3%) and Aston Villa (42.2%)
Aston Villa have scored only one goal in the first half of their last 12 Premier League matches.
Maroaune Chamakh has attempted only five shots on target in 1239 minutes of Premier League action this season, but he’s scored with four of these shots.
Predicted Lineups:
Guzan
Lowton-Baker-Clark-Luna
El Ahmadi-Sylla-Delph
Albrighton——-Agbonlahor
Kozak
Gayle-Jerome
Bannan-Jedinak-Ward-Puncheon
Mariappa-Gabbidon-Delaney-Moxey
Speroni
Match Prediction:
Aston Villa 2-1 Crystal Palace
Firstly, Aston Villa need to win this game. We’ll be in serious trouble if we don’t, we have a good run of fixtures coming up and the players need confidence from a victory against Palace. I reckon we’re more of a threat with Kozak up front, I never thought I’d say that at this point in the season. Agbonlahor and Albrighton remain our most creative players. Palace will be tough, I wouldn’t be surprised if they snatched a draw but I just don’t see too much of a goal threat from Palace. If the defence can be some-what decent, we’ll manage to get the 3 points.
I’m going to the game today with my dad and my mrs. I honestly can’t see us getting a result today, the goals aren’t coming from anyone in particular. I hope Marc and gabby play wider and whip balls into the box for Kozak. If we aim to play long, counter attacking football again I’d imagine we will lose. Again. I hope they prove me wrong but I’m expecting a dull 1-0 to Palace.
Hope I’m wrong.
Hope have a nice day avfcjay unfortunately i have to agree mate,our home form is dire & with this new manager syndrome lark can’t see us getting much.im sorry folks im going 1-3 palace i just haven’t got an ounce of faith atm.i really hope im proved wrong.i can assure you all i do have claret & blue running through my veins.
Isn’t it terrible I have to agree lads I think palace will win this one 1-2 , we’re shit and in dyer need of a massive overhaul , I too have no faith at all left in the club . Lerner/ Lambert OUT !!!!!!!!
All this is because we know and so do other football clubs, the only one that doesn’t is our no knowledge manager. With you lads 1-0 Palace but praying that we win, just no faith in Lambert.
I will be there again…………and I to think we will lose this game, we have no player that can create anything, only 2 players that want to try for the club, above all I have a sneaky feeling Bannan will score, so he can show Lambert that’s what you could have had.
On a plus side this could be the demise of his Villa management career, because they will call for his head.
0-2 score
Think Palace will win 3-1, sorry just cant see where our next win will come from, especially at home…. Teams love playing the Villa at the moment and without our fluke results against Man Shitty and Southampton we would be where we deserve to be in the league…. Look out for the “can’t fault the lads” and some dross player “was unplayable” and it will be normality resumes at Villa Park..Lambert Needs to go and Fatty Faulkner with him !!
And we pick ourselves up and go again mumble mumble. Though I really think we will win today I really can’t see us losing to palace to be honest esp with gabby back
Sorry Ooh AH, forgot about the “pick ourselves up again” Can you just imagine his team talks, A David Brent that mumbles… !
Lol
I think we’re awful but will still manage to win this. Look on the bright side, we must play a decent match sometime!
I was contemplating going today, but the thought of watching us lose at home to such a poor side was too much.
It would have totally ruined my Christmas break.
Watching it remotely won’t be quite so bad, somehow, I hope.
That said, I struggle to believe we can’t beat these at home, but am going for the draw.
We just don’t look to have the goals in us at home.
The attendance will be a very big indicator of what the fans think.
We pretty much always get a sell out on Boxing day, but today I don’t think we will, even allowing that Palace might not take all of their allocation.
Hmm. I never knew that Boxing Day games were popular. Learn something new every day 🙂
Yes, I think it’s a good excuse to get away from the missus and kids and have a couple of pints mate 🙂
Traditionally a sell out.
Its official we are worse than last year: According to Opta, Villa’s average possession this season stands at 42.18%, which is lower than last season (44.23%) and less than every Premier League club with the exception of Crystal Palace. They have made 6,013 passes and their passing accuracy is 73.92% – lower than last season in both cases (6,141 and 76.08% respectively) – and in both categories only Palace have a worse record.
From open play Villa have delivered 200 crosses, which is 12 fewer than in 2012-13 and the joint lowest in the league along with Palace. As for the number of long balls, Villa have played a higher percentage (16.38%) than they did last season and more than any other team in the league…… Says it all !
Very reasoned assessment of us at the moment, with some very decent replies too;
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/dec/26/aston-villa-paul-lambert
Massive game, anything less than 3 points will not be accepted, home form has been so woeful that we simply have to win today.
I feel even a draw today will see the crowd turn on Lamberk and rightfully so, don’t want to hear any “we go again” mumbling after the full time whistle, just go and win the match.
Unfortunately, I think Pulis will get his team to sit deep and counter, and as we have zero creativity it will be the same old garbage. Bore draw on the cards IMO and if that is the case Lamberk should be sacked within 10 minutes of the full time whistle going.
Villa 3 Palace 0
Fuck off Lerner, the Villa is OURS
Both Pulis and Lamberk play dire football, but at least Pulis is effective in doing so.
Palace to nick it 1-0.
My only hope is we get a few renditions of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” and “you don’t know what you’re doing” as well as Lamberk Out of course.
What we need to do is sing bring back mcleish to us to us. If that dosnt give him a subtle hint nothing will
Watching Huddlestone running Manure ragged. We should have been in for him IMO
It’s amazing how they are giving them a decent game and not rolling over like we did
that’s a good shout hes sumat which we don’t av ~ controlling midfield with a swagger
livinstone aswell looks half decent
Sick of hearing how good Gary Gardner is meant to be. About time we gave him a run in the team!
Bet 365 offering 19/20 for Villa to win.
Jeez, that’s shocking odds against such a poor team at home.
Sums it all up, I guess.
I think the majority of fans on here thinking we’re going to lose to that pile of shite sums it all up mate.very sad
I don’t
villa 3 to 5 palace nil
a walkover easy easy easy
guzan hat trick
Is this the lineup?
Aston Villa Line-Up: Guzan, Lowton, Clark, Baker, Luna, Albrighton, El Ahmadi, Weimann, Delph, Agbonlahor (c), Kozak
Aston Villa Substitutes: Steer, Bacuna, Helenius, Bowery, Sylla, Gardner, Tonev
No Sylla starting? Surprised at that, myself.
God that team just looks SO average.
Yep, line up confirmed.
Why anyone is wasting their time and money going to this tripe is beyond me.
Lambert, Lerner and Fatty, get the hell out of our club.!
Just watching in pub so boring its untrue