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.
Comments
82 responses to “Aston Villa Vs Crystal Palace – Preview”
I see swansea playing well at chelski,shite watch out sat.
Can’t believe vp arnt calling for lamberks head yet. Disgrace
Ooha i find it remarkable how they haven’t jumped on him yet mate all my villa mates in kiddy want rid & that’s a good number who many are at the game so there will be questions when i meet up.it’s beyond a joke.
Lambert “I thought we were really strong today, very tight defensively, and we were unlucky going forward. The ref had a poor game today but he’s only human. The team is really developing a cohesion. I’m proud of them all. We’ll be alright. “
Palace one up.
Un-fucking-believable.
Lambert out!
LAMBERT FUCK OFF LAMBERT FUCK OFF
Ssn. Massive boos.
Just watching in a pub of villa fans just silence and disbelief. Lamberk has to go
He has to walk after this or be sacked, fucking joke!! Proper ruined my boxing day the Villa!
LAMBERT OUT!
LERNER OUT!
I really hope he’s fucked off before i lose it.it’s going frm bad to worse now open your fucking eyes yank.
What did I say fucking disgusting, he has to go NOW, we was conned of having a twat like him, J D now what do you say?
unacceptable performance. We had no clear goal opportunities. If you can´t win a game don´t loose it. But we are so naïve its incredible. Something has to happen. I am fed up with all these poor performances.
Fuck him off fuck him off.what a load of bollox championship fodder at best fuck him off.i can’t take no more of this dross fuck him off swansea next 0-8 without a shadow of doubt fuck him off.
Delph on his own for the goal for FUCK sake, Delph!!! Lambert needs to fucking go tonight!
What a load of fucking shite….the best team won, and that tells you everything!
Fuck off Lerner, the Villa is OURS
Any twat that comes on here now be were I’ve said from day one we have a idiot running our club , now say we don’t, he’s a disgrace to the name of football, its my club fuck him off now.
Lambert has to go…now.
Lambert give us the best xmas present ever designed for a footy fan & FUCK OFF YOU 4EYED SCOTTISH TWAT.
Lol Giddy…..no racism mate!
Too right, I know some great 4 eyed people!
Carlos Quieroz anyone?
with those possesion figures i reckon swansea are shitting themselves
COLONIUS81 come mate give us your 2000 word essay entitled ‘Everything’s just peachy at AVFC.’
Worst Villa team I’ve witnessed in my ilfetime! Total incomptetence all over the field, time and again wwe couldn’t string a pass together, Palace were the better team today! Absolute disgrace!
As he resigned yet?
I’m keeping a live feed open mate, he has to walk or go tongiht after that, we lost to the worst team in the league and made them look good!
HE should resign in the press conference for all to see!
German coaching badges???? Simply send 10 lids from your sauerkraut jars and allow 28 days for delivery.
lol BWS, or just use the lids mate and pretend! Shit manager!
I gave him enough time and he’s made our team worse!
Carlos Quieroz, Villa bound?
Get that fucking north of england twat out of our beloved club,he’s enough to turn you to drinking the 4eyed prick.no more i can’t take it.
dear santa
please help villa
a team with no confidence, no form lacking in effort and skill ~ wot is the aim of the team, cos never did weimann or albrighton make a cross from the bye line. too many times did clark and baker try 2 assist villa with over hit straight long aimless balls. when the so called creative players passed back sideways anyways but forward or incisive
I give up. only so much backing ppl lambert has lost the dressing room definitely lost the crowd, when u loss the pattern of play ur identity and ur only threat is aimless balls its time 4 a change
only way lambs 2 the slaughter goes is if he walks, I admit I wanted him and av no clues 2 who I want but a change is needed, either Gordon cowans or mcClaron
Does anyone even know what formation we were playing today? I couldn’t figure it out…and I don’t think the players could either.\
Bannan-played in his correct position-was the most creative player on the field. Says it all really.