Match Preview: Aston Villa
MATCHPREVIEW
Saturday 13th March 2010
Stoke City vs Aston Villa
Barclays Premier League
Britannia Stadium
Kick-Off 3:00pm
INTRODUCINGASTONVILLA
Following the heartbreak of a Carling Cup final defeat to Manchester United by booking another trip to Wembley with a win at Reading in the FA Cup, Aston Villa turn their attention towards continuing their push for fourth place when they travel to a Potters side looking to guarantee their Premier League survival.
The Villans lie four points away from a Champions League spot, but their cup exertions mean that they have games in hand on their closest rivals.
Martin O'Neill's side are currently on a six match unbeaten run in the Premier League, a stretch which has included an impressive 5-2 demolition of Burnley last time out and hard-fought draw's with title challengers Arsenal and Manchester United.
The Villans possess an array of British talent in their ranks and arguably the most outstanding performer this campaign has been striker Gabriel Agbonlahor.
The 23-year-old has impressively worked his way up from being a product of Aston Villa's Academy system to becoming one of their hottest properties and the forward has been in scintillating form this season, scoring 14 goals so far in all competitions, including a recent impressive brace away at in-form Fulham.
It was fellow striker John Carew's second-half header which separated the sides in a hard-fought battle at Villa Park earlier this season and the Norwegian International staked a claim for a start this weekend by scoring a hat-trick at the Madejski Stadium last Sunday.
With as many as six of Villa's players pushing for a place in England's world cup squad, they will all be hoping to impress Fabio Capello by leading their side to Champions League qualification this season and with the race hotting up, they will be desperate to get something out of Saturday's trip to the Britannia Stadium.
MEETTHEGAFFER
As a player, Martin O'Neill achieved instant success as he helped Distillery to Irish Cup glory in 1971.
O'Neill was then scouted by Nottingham Forest and went onto become an integral part of their golden era during which the Tricky Trees won a league title, two European Cups, two league cups and a European Super Cup.
After ten years in Nottingham, O'Neill went on to play for Norwich City and Manchester City before ending his illustrious career with Notts County.
The midfielder was also a success at International level, picking up 64 caps and captaining his country in the 1982 World Cup.
O'Neill made the transition into management just a couple of years after ending his playing career, and in 1990 he took charge of Conference outfit Wycombe Wanderers.
He impressively led Wycombe to two successive promotions before moving to Norwich City. Things didn't work out for O'Neill at the Canaries, and after differences with the chairman Robert Chase; O'Neill left the club to join Leicester City.
It was at Filbert Street where his strong affiliation with the League Cup began as he engineered three final appearances, of which Leicester came out on top in both 1997 and 2000.
Following his second Wembley triumph, O'Neill joined Old Firm giants Celtic and the 57-year-old added three SPL titles, three Scottish Cups and a League Cup to his list of honours during a five year spell at Parkhead.
He has since led Villa to a top six finish at Villa Park in each of the last two seasons and despite suffering a Carling Cup final defeat to Manchester United last month, the Villans remain in the hunt for FA Cup glory and a Champions League place as they look to establish themselves as one of the Premier League's big forces under the Irishman.
CLUBDETAILS
Full Name: Aston Villa Football Club
Founded: 1874
Nickname: The Villans
Stadium: Villa Park
Capacity: 42,788
Owner: Randy Lerner
Chairman: Randy Lerner
HEAD2HEAD
League: Played 77, Won 21, Drew 18, Lost 38
FA Cup: Played 10, Won 1, Drew 2, Lost 7
League Cup: Played 3, Won 0, Drew 1, Lost 2
Total: Played 90, Won 22, Drew 21, Lost 47
FASTFACTS
* Aston Villa has provided more England Internationals than any other club with 68.
* Aston Villa has the fourth highest total of major honours won by an English club.
* Record League Victory: 12-2 vs Accrington Stanley, March, 1892.
* Record League Defeat: 0-7 vs Blackburn Rovers, October 1899.
* Record Transfer Paid: £12,000,000 for Stewart Downing to Middlesbrough, July 2009.
* Record Transfer Received: £12,600,000 from Manchester United for Dwight Yorke, August 1998.
FLASHBACK
Aston Villa were the first ever visitors for a Premier League game at the Britannia Stadium and the two sides produced a dramatic five-goal thriller that will live long in the memory for the Potters faithful.
On the half-hour mark, Liam Lawrence opened the scoring for the hosts from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark after Rory Delap was fouled by Martin Laursen in the penalty area.
Norwegian striker John Carew finished off a terrific Villa move to level matters on 63 minutes but City looked to have secured the three points when they regained the lead with just ten minutes remaining after a tremendous goal from Ricardo Fuller.
But Laursen made amends for conceding the first-half penalty as he turned in Ashley Young's free-kick with six minutes to go.
The pulsating encounter looked destined to end as a draw but Mamady Sidibe had other ideas as he headed home in stoppage time to clinch a famous victory for the Potters and spark scenes of wild celebration from the Potters fans.
PLAYEDFORBOTHCLUBS
Thomas Sorensen began his playing career in his home country of Denmark before Peter Reid brought him to Sunderland in 1998.
After a five year spell with the Black Cats, the goalkeeper moved to Aston Villa and made 139 appearances in between the sticks for the Villans.
But after falling out of favour at Villa Park and failing to make a single appearance during the 2007/2008 season, Stoke City snapped up the Danish International on a free transfer.
Since signing for the Potters, Sorensen has been a model of consistency and has firmly established himself as Tony Pulis's first choice goalkeeper, making 67 appearances already for the club so far.
FORMGUIDE
Stoke City: DWWLLD
Manchester City (h) Drew 1-1
Portsmouth (a) Won 2-1
Manchester City (h) [FA Cup] Won 3-1 AET
Arsenal (h) Lost 3-1
Chelsea (a) [FA Cup] Lost 2-0
Burnley (a) Drew 1-1
Aston Villa: DDWWLW
Manchester United (h) Drew 1-1
Crystal Palace (a) [FA CUP] Drew 2-2
Burnley (h) Won 5-2
Crystal Palace (h) [FA Cup] Won 3-1
Manchester United (n) [Carling Cup] Lost 2-1
Reading (a) [FA Cup] Won 4-2
MATCHOFFICIALS
Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistants: Stuart Burt & David Coote
Fourth Official: Colin Webster
BETTINGNEWS
City are priced at 23/10 to secure all three points, with Aston Villa installed as 5/4 favourites. The draw is priced at 5/4.
