West Ham vs Villa – Match preview

December 19, 2008 by Martin Banks
Filed under: Aston Villa, Match Previews 

0pic35Saturday sees Villa travel to Upton Park for the annual game where the opposition wear our colours, for a 5.30pm kick off and it’ll live blogged here on Aston Villa Blog, so make sure to tune in here and get hitting F5 for the action as it happens.

Villa haven’t won this fixture in over twelve years, drawing the last two and the time before that we completely embarrassed ourselves in a shoddy 4-0 beating which included a hat-trick from a bloke called Marlon Harewood.

We go into the game pretending the Hamburg shambles never happened, instead focusing on our league form. December so far has brought us two wins in two and we’ll be hoping to make that three and keep the pressure on the top four and also take advantage of the fact that Man Utd are out prannying about in the FIFA World Club Cup, so if we win we go 3rd.

Team

MON rested rucks of players midweek (and got embarrassed) with this game in mind so expect to see a full strength side walk out at the Boleyn Ground. Ashley Young, Gareth Barry, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Martin Laursen, Stiliyan Petrov, Curtis Davies and Brad Friedel will all step back into the side, hoping to show what Villa are really made of. Nigel Reo-Coker and Marlon Harewood may get some action against their old club but both played 90 mins midweek.

MON will probably go back to the the 4-5-1 formation with John Carew still out but James Milner now 100%. Carlos Cuellar could well be moved back to right back and Luke Young switched over to the left, with Davies and Laursen being like the rock of Gibraltar in the centre.

The midfield will most likely be the Milner, Petrov, Barry, Sidders and Young, with Aggy alone up front. As has been seen, this formation works against some sides but not others (mainly the ones who put ten men behind the ball), so it’s fingers crossed time.

West Ham will still be without main goal threat (and rumoured Villa target) Dean Ashton, and are likely to field ex-Villa loan player Carlton Cole. Most Villa fans will be pleased about this prospect, remembering the lack of danger he presented during his time with us.

Villa will definitely be playing for a win and it’s likely to be a lively match. See you all here tomorrow at half five.


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