Aston Villa v Leicester City (FA Cup) 2014/15
As it has proven for us as well, Leicester have enjoyed the distraction of the FA Cup. Villa performed well against Bournemouth in the last round but Leicester knocked out Tottenham away. Leicester produced a battling performance mid-week at Arsenal and coupled with our makeshift managerial set-up they will be looking to end the cup run of a potential relegation rival…
[quote_center]We’ve won only four of the last 13 home games against Leicester City in all competitions.[/quote_center]
Scott Marshall on the vacant manager position
“This is not a job for someone to cut their teeth on. This is all new to me, but I’m happy to do it while things are being sorted.
“It’s a big job. I don’t think the players have a point to prove. They want to go out and win the game because they are good professionals and there is a quarter-final place at stake.”
Marshall on Leicester and the FA Cup
“Leicester are a good team and have put in some good performances lately and I don’t believe the results have reflected that. They are looking to progress as we are.
“It’s the FA Cup and a chance to get into the quarter-finals. In the last Cup game against Bournemouth, where Carles Gil produced a fantastic performance, the atmosphere at Villa Park was excellent. We’d hope for the same again this weekend.”
Pearson on relegation rivals
“We are getting a little bit frustrated at being talked about as being unlucky. It is a challenge for us, we have got to start turning these types of performances into results.
“Games like Arsenal, against a top side, are probably a bit of a bonus game. Our results against sides in and around us are going to be pivotal.
“We cannot afford to continue this ‘we played well – unlucky’.”
Memory Match
26th September 2007 Aston Villa 0 Leicester City 1
A late goal from Fryatt ended Villa’s League Cup aspirations in the 2007/08 season.
Villa– Last five matches at home (in all competitions): W 2, D 1, L 2
Leicester – Last five matches away (in all competitions): W 2, D 1, L 2
One to Watch
Andrej Kramaric – A big money signing for Leicester, the striker showed his quality with a debut consolation goal against Arsenal in the week.
Facts to Sweep Under the Carpet
Often a manager’s dismissal can lead to a feel-good factor around a football club. Already we’ve seen teams change their manager and produce some good results – just look at QPR’s away win in the week.
We’re not quite at that stage yet though, and with the club facing a very difficult decision, the make-shift Marshall pairing could struggle to produce a good performance from a Villa side low on confidence. While we’ve done alright in the cup we won just two of our last 21 league matches under Lambert, one of many stats that led to his departure.
An away win at Tottenham was a spectacular result for Pearson’s men and they’ve shown they are willing to put up a fight to stay in the league. Results haven’t been going their way but they have at least been scoring – they’ve only failed to score once during their last 16 FA Cup matches.
It doesn’t help that we don’t have a very good record against Leicester either. We’ve won only four of the last 13 home games against Leicester City in all competitions.
What We Pray the Football Gods Will Provide
Professionalism. Not only has there have been three red cards in the two league meetings between the teams this season, but also the players need to show that they can concentrate on their football as the manager hunt goes on.
For once Villa have been gifted a bit of luck in that we’ve got a while before the next league game – ample time to find a new manager.
With Lambert gone and the possibility that potential new managers will be watching, Villa players should be eager to impress.
Cup games always have a different feel to them – lets hope that the Villa players can express themselves now that they will be without Lambert’s tactics.
Why Villa Have Got This Game in the Bag
Somewhat surprisingly, Villa have won eight of their last nine home FA Cup matches.
Despite the Marshalls’ attempts to help implement Lambert’s playing style, with the Scot no longer in the dugout hopefully they will change things slightly.
For starters, surely Benteke has to start? I’d probably throw Vlaar in there too.
History suggests the match will be a close one (Villa and the Foxes have met four times in the FA Cup, winning twice each), hopefully a managerial shake-up will tip the balance in the home side’s favour as we prepare for a new era.
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Why try and do Lambert tactics for this game? It’s proven to not work! Change the formation with 2 up front…for me:
Given
Hutton Vlaar Baker Sissoko
Gil. Delph. Greleish
Weiman
Agbonlahor
Benteke
Can’t believe Marshall said he was going to reach out to Lambert before the game out loud.
I predict that Sherwood will pop up in the dressing room on Sunday am and there will be a “Delph” type announcement prior to kick off. Lord help us, because he’s not just Marmite, he’s Marmite concentrate.
Don’t think he will now. Sherwood will no doubt have a word.