For the second consecutive gameweek, Aston Villa get ready for a double. Presented with a heavy March schedule, Martin O’Neill may well be threatening to rest certain players, but the Villa players showed little sign of lethargy in taking four points from a couple of tricky away games last week. Can they produce with two Villa Park fixtures in their sights?
The Opponents
First up is a Midlands derby at home to Wolves, who have just one clean sheet in their last twelve trips on the road. Mick McCarthy’s side are firmly entrenched in the relegation battle but will be buoyed by a vital win at bottom-of-the-table rivals Burnley in their last league outing which leaves them three points above the drop zone. The passion of local derbies tends to through the form book out the window, and Wolves will be up for this one.
Next up for O’Neill’s boys is another home fixture, this time playing host to Sunderland. Steve Bruce’s side were unfortunate not to pick up a second successive win last weekend, and have just one defeat in seven. Their away form is dire, however, with the Black Cats scoring just 13 goals in 14 away games this season, with a single goal in their last three on the road.
Current Form
Villa continued their unbeaten start to the year last week, and eight games undefeated is the club’s best run this season. With both games at home, a more in-depth look at their last six games at Villa Park reveals: W2 D3 L1 F7 A4.
O’Neill’s team have picked up three clean sheets, but at the other end of the pitch have scored more than a single goal just once in this period, in the recent 5-2 win over Burnley. On two occasions they grabbed just one goal, and have failed to score in three matches.
Rotation Risk
Given that the club reached the Carling Cup Final and have a FA Cup semi-final next month, Martin O’Neill has recently hinted that rotation is very much a consideration. Last week, apart from Agbonlahor missing due to a virus, it was pretty much the usual XI. Heskey and Carew may be rotated, and perhaps fringe players such as Sidwell may see some game time, but Villa’s line-up does tend to be predictable.
Potential Targets
With ten teams participating in the double gameweek, at least one, you would reckon, will record two clean sheets. A look at the fixtures suggests Villa are, arguably, the most up to the task. With the form of their defence combined with the poor away performances of both upcoming opponents, the likelihood only increases.
Brad Friedel
Villa’s counter-attacking game means Friedel tends to be kept busy, as the team sit deep before breaking quick on their opponents. Always unflappable, he never seems to have a bad game. He could also be a consideration for managers looking to replace the injured Paul Robinson, for this gameweek and beyond.
Predicted Return: 6 saves, 2 clean sheets
James Collins/ Richard Dunne/Carlo Cuellar
Once James Milner gets his share, the bonus point judges seem to be rotating points between these three in recent games. Since the turn of the year, at least one of the trio has picked up bonus in six out of Villa’s eight games in the club’s unbeaten run.
Predicted Return: 2 clean sheets and 5 Bonus Points shared between them.
James Milner
Milner showed in the last double gameweek just why sometimes it’s wise to opt for the obvious. A goal and a man of the match performance against Wigan had him head and shoulders above the likes of “differentials” Young and Downing. Clearly the main man for Villa this season, it’s difficult to look beyond Milner when picking out their probable main performer again this gameweek.
Predicted Return: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 clean sheets, 3 Bonus Points
Ashley Young
Has only scored twice at home this season, with both goals coming when Villa ran riot, putting five past their respective opponents. O’Neill’s team may well do something similar in one of the upcoming games, and Young will surely be amongst the points if that happens.
Predicted Return: 1 assist, 2 clean sheets
John Carew
Getting more game minutes due to Agbonlahor’s virus, and is typically a “home” player in the league, with three of his four strikes coming at Villa Park. With Gabby still considered a doubt to face Wolves, Carew should have enough on-pitch time to grab himself at least one goal.
Predicted Return: 1 goal, 1 assist
Gabby Agbonlahor
You could argue he grabbed a goal and an assist in his last home league game, or you could counter it with the fact that he has scored just one goal in his last seven league games at Villa Park. Both fixtures are favourable, though, and he will surely grab a goal to boost his tally of 11 in the Premier League to date.
Predicted Return: 1 goal, 1 Bonus Point