Breaking News

Friday, November 9, 2012

Aston Villa v Manchester United: match preview

Saturday, November 10
Aston Villa v Manchester United
Villa Park
Kick-off: 17.30 GMT
Aston Villa (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Stevens; El Ahmadi, Bannan; Weimann, Ireland, Agbonlahor; Benteke.
Out: Bent (ankle), Dunne (groin), Gardner, N'Zogbia (both knee), Lichaj (suspended), Petrov (illness).
Test: Bennett (knee).
Manchester United (Probable, 4-4-1-1): De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Smalling, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Young; Rooney; Van Persie.
Out: Nani (hamstring), Kagawa, W Keane, Jones, Vidic (all knee).
Test: Evans (groin).
Referee: Kevin Friend. Matches 5, R1 Y18.
Team News
Aston Villa midfielder Karim El Ahmadi will return, after a one-match ban, against Manchester United.
But defender Eric Lichaj is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign during the 1-0 win at Sunderland.
Fellow left-back Joe Bennett is struggling to overcome a knee injury so Enda Stevens is in contention to face Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
Striker Darren Bent is again absent with his ankle injury.
United, meanwhile, could be without central defender Jonny Evans.
Evans has a niggling groin problem, which may force Sir Alex Ferguson to push Chris Smalling into his second game in four days.
Nani (hamstring) joins Shinji Kagawa, Phil Jones and Nemanja Vidic (all knee) on the sidelines.
Match Notes
Sir Alex Ferguson loves going to Villa Park.
The last time he lost a Premier League game here was 1995 when Alan Hansen insisted he would win nothing with kids but he duly did, and the rest is history.
United overcame a floodlight failure in Braga to record their seventh win in eight games on Wednesday and the fact they are yet to dazzle this season represents an ominous message to their rivals.
Paul Lambert's Villa revolution is showing tangible, and much needed, signs of progress but the history books are not on his side ahead of this teatime tussle.
Betting: Home 4-1, Away 1-2, Draw 3-1.
Stat of the game: Manchester United are unbeaten in 16 league visits to Villa Park; they last lost there in May 1995.
John Percy’s Prediction: Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 3.

No comments:

Designed By VungTauZ.Com