Big yawn. Can’t think of a more negative and boring team to play against. Even the Boro fans are leaving in their droves (and this coming from a Villa fan!). Not only that, but even bigger yawn that we get yet another game on a Sunday, this time at the stupid kick off time of 2pm. Don’t know about you, but around and about that time I like to be eating a roast dinner, not watching players who like roasting in other forms. I seriously wish some fan would start a campaign to get our sport back on track and have kick offs at the mad time of 3pm on a Saturday and 7.45pm on a Wednesday. Sky brought in great money to the game and has done it loads of good, but it is now driving people away.
Ho hum.
As for the match. I’m uninspired. We have an injury crisis already and Boro are just dullards. Their lack of performance v Sunderland must have got their fans seething; they basically played with no passion and no guts. Sound familiar to Villa fans? So, with the fact the game looks very much like a dull negative encounter with both teams scrapping for mid table mediocrity, what is the bets that it will be the game of the season?!!
Vital Quotes:
Doug says ‘will this match be a sell out’
The fans say ‘no’
Aston Villa Team News:
Phillips, Laursen, Hendrie and Hughes are all out and most probably Delaney who is most unlikely to feature despite having a reserves run out this week. Who knows, maybe Jumper Jumper will get a game? On the bright side, Baros is back from injury and should join Angel up front. (from): Sorensen, Taylor, Samuel, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Cahill, Bouma, Milner, Berger, Bakke, Davis, De La Cruz, Djemba-Djemba, Barry, Baros, Angel, Moore.
Player to watch: Whichever Ones Are Fit
Will it be Sorenson the great or Sorenson the great mistake?
Middlesbrough Team News:
Boro aren’t doing that much better, poor Ugo picked up another injury v Sunderland (groin) and is doubtful, as is Schwarzer and Parlour is ruled out with a knee injury. Viduka should be fit having recovered from a Achilles injury. With luck he won’t have recovered from being a fat lazy ………………. (insert your own term of fondness or abuse) . (from): Jones, Knight, Xavier, Queudrue, Pogatetz, Southgate, Riggott, Parnaby, Bates, Doriva, Boateng, Rochemback, Mendieta, Morrison, Johnson, Kennedy, Hasselbaink, Yakubu, Viduka, Maccarone.
Player to watch: Viduka
He might look lazy, but he can score!
Match Facts & Stats
This is the worst start for Villa in their Premiership history, nothing short of three points will get them going in the right direction and steer them away from an early season fight to stay clear of the relegation candidates. Not only that, but with our next trip an away visit to the Sty, we really need to find some battling form.
Still, on the bright side, we were forecast rain and now the forecast just says clouds!
Villa are 15th with 6 points.
Boro are 11th with 8 points.
Aston Villa 2-0 Middlesbrough (Laursen 64, Luke Moore 79)
Record in the Premiership: Villa 11 wins, Middlesbrough 4 wins, Draws 5 .
Prem record at Villa Park: Villa 6 wins, Middlesbrough 1 win, Draws 3.
Ref Watch:
Mike Dean, 4 matches, 0 reds, 8 yellows.
Match Prediction:
Its a toss up for Mystic Mug this week, but enough about his private life, he says a draw or win for Villa and his early season optimism is leading him to say 0-0. But I think he is wrong, even the Boro fans are predicting a Villa win and I’ll go 1-0 to Villa. Happy days.
Next Fixtures:
Oct 15 (Small Heath)
Oct 22 WIGAN
Oct 29 (Man City)
