Match Difficulty Grade
A – It’s do or die time for Manchester City in terms of their increasingly futile race for the title. To leave Villa Park with anything less than three points could ultimately cost Mancini his job. For Villa, it goes without saying, to get anything from their 800th Premiership game would be priceless and it’s certainly not beyond them when you consider the Saints beat City 3-1 last month at home, and the month before, QPR picked up a home point against them.
Form is Temporary
Current Premier League form table (last six games) – Aston Villa – 17th / Man City – 5th
Aston Villa: Last five Premier League matches at home: W 1, L 4
Man City: Last five Premier League matches away: W 2, D 1, L 2
In the last five league meetings at Villa Park, Villa have won twice, drawn twice and lost once.
Facts to Sweep Under the Carpet
For starters, the team’s last meeting…5-0 to City. Add to that Villa’s league record of one win in the last 10 games and it could be a long, long night. Scoring the first goal may prove to be key on Monday night for Villa; Lambert’s side have not won any of the 13 league games in which they have conceded the first goal. This could be difficult indeed when you consider that only QPR have scored fewer goals than Aston Villa in the Premier League…
What We Pray the Football Gods Will Provide
Aston Villa’s 1000th Premiership goal – hopefully off the boot or head of Andi Weimann to help make up for the distress he suffered at the Etihad, due to dodgy referee decisions.
Also, it’s often that we hear of the “fire in the bellies” of Villa players, and this game will be a perfect chance to show that we are up to the challenge of avoiding relegation. Other relegation candidates have taken points off Manchester City at home, so why can’t Villa? It would be good to see Vlaar back and many would choose Baker for the left-back position after the display at West Ham – it’s clear defensive changes are needed following the defeat at the Emirates. We know that we can frighten teams near the top of the table, and came close to good results in home games against Manchester United and Arsenal. A little bit of luck and we could be due an almighty upset.
Why Villa are Totally 100% Going to Win
Man City are not free from pressure coming into this match, with only one win in their last four league matches. Their forward line, despite their talent, haven’t really clicked and have actually managed far fewer goals at this point in the season than they had last season. Most importantly, Mario Balotelli, who wasn’t shy scoring against Villa, has gone. Also, City captain Vincent Kompany looks to still be absent and Villa have the forwards to exploit this. It’s a ‘nothing to lose’ game and if Villa go into it with that mentality and have a go like they did in the League Cup, then the team should surprise even the most cynical of fans and make a mockery of the 7/1 odds for a Villa win!
UTV
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