Lawro Says Draw – Mystic Mug Says Win

Hot on the heals of a correct Villa to win at Reading prediction (albeit the wrong score, he said 2-1) Lawro this week is saying 1-1 against the ever tough Stoke.

Lawro said:

‘Stoke continue to progress very nicely, regularly picking up points to maintain their mid-table place. They gave Chelsea a very good game in the Cup last week before going down 2-0 and picked up a point at Burnley on Wednesday. They are at home and they beat Villa at the Britannia last season in their first campaign back in the Premier League. They are a match for any side on their own turf.’ Adding, ‘Villa are going to have a lot of fixtures coming up because of their relative success in the cup competitions and that may be problematic to them as they tend to play the same side week in, week out. But Villa are strong and very mentally resolute, as we saw at Reading last week. I can see them getting a point.’

BBC match preview: Click Here

Mystic Mug says 1-0, he doesn’t really know which way but being a Villa man, he’ll side with us!

MON on Stoke boss Tony Pulis: www.avfc.co.uk
Stoke City’s official site match preview: www.stokecityfc.com

Martin O’Neill has backed Villa’s mean defence to deal with Rory Delap’s lethal long throw. Full quotes: www.avfc.co.uk

John Carew has told the official site: ‘It will be a very tough game. It’s one of the most difficult away games in the Premier League. It’s a game that will be similar to the game against Reading. Stoke are obviously a division higher than Reading but they are a physical side and it will be a physical game on a tiny pitch. We really have to be up for it. I am sure we will be able to get something out of the game.’ Fighting talk, go for it JC, get another hattrick!

Video preview: Click Here
Interview with a Stoke fan: Click Here