Villa fell from grace last week against a Manchester City side who appeared there for the taking, it was a case of ‘after the Lord mayors show’ following our superb win against Chelsea, so Villa have to get back on track and pick up points at home v Everton. Never an easy game but we’ve got the measure of them stats wise at Villa Park.
Vital Quotes:
Martin O’Neill said: ‘Everton over the last couple of seasons have proved their credentials and one season they even broke into the top-four. They had one season that was a bit stodgy, but otherwise they’ve done pretty well. They can grind out results. They’re very strong, hard to beat and they do grind out results. Now, in addition to that, they’ve gone into the market and spent very heavily on Yakubu.’ Adding, ‘We lost the first home game (v Liverpool), but won the next two with very pleasing results against Fulham and Chelsea. Home form is crucial. Our aim this season is to win some more games than we drew last year. Do that and we won’t be far away.’
Aston Villa Team News:
Marlon Harewood is still out of contention, well out of contention for sitting on the bench. John Carew will hopefully be less ‘tired’ and can lead the line and set off his seasons goal feast.
(from): Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Bouma, Agbonlahor, Barry, Reo-Coker, Young, Moore, Carew, Taylor, Davies, Petrov, Maloney, Gardner.
Player to watch: John Carew
Time for him to start leading the line and bringing home the goals, if he isn’t too tired obviously! :o))
Everton Team News:
No idea and little interest in truth – you see the lengths of research I go for the Vital Villa reader?!
(from): Wessels, Hibbert, Stubbs, Lescott, Yobo, Baines, Valente, Pienaar, Arteta, Carsley, Neville, Osman, McFadden, Jagielka, Yakubu, Anichebe, Ruddy, Vidarsson.
Player to watch: Yakubu
Has a nasty knack of scoring and we don’t want that do we!?
Match Facts & Stats
Two founding members head to head in the most played game.
Premiership head to heads: Villa 14 wins, Everton 7 wins, 9 Draws.
Head to heads at Villa Park: Villa 9 wins, Everton 1 win, 5 Draws.
Last season was a 1-1 draw (Gabby scored for Villa)
2 April 2007 – Ref: Howard Webb
I hate Everton, they broke my heart as a 7 year old at my first game coming from behind to beat us 2-1. Buggers!
Ref Watch:
Lee Probert
Match Prediction:
Match Prediction: Mystic Mug 
says 2-0 to Villa. Quite how he came up with that gawd knows but lets hope he is spot on!
Mark Lawrenson predicts a 1-1 saying on the BBC site that both teams should finish in the top 8, adding – and putting pay to the fans ‘he hates us’ moaning! – ‘I like the way Villa play. They are a side with plenty of pace provided by Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor, but against Manchester City last weekend John Carew and Luke Moore did not provide much of a cutting edge in attack.’
Next Fixtures:
Spurs away on Monday 1st October.
