Premier League: Aston Villa v Sunderland match preview
A look ahead to the weekend’s fixture at Villa Park
After Monday night’s hard-fought comeback at West Brom, Aston Villa host Gus Poyet’s Sunderland, who are trying to move off the bottom of the Premier League.
Both teams are struggling to find consistency but Poyet’s arrival at the Stadium of Light has improved Sunderland’s fortunes and they will see Saturday’s clash as a chance for three points. Villa’s 2-2 draw with West Brom was heavily inspired by Andreas Weimann, Fabian Delph and Gabriel Agbonlahor, who all came on from the bench which could mean changes in the line-up that started that game. Villa are still without Charles N’Zogbia and Craig Gardner, while Sunderland are relatively injury-free, with the exception of goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.
Villa are unbeaten in their last three games in the Premier League but have conceded nine goals in their six home games this season. A win could potentially take them into the top half and would further bridge the gap from the relegation zone. Sunderland are bottom of the Premier League but are only three points from safety, so a victory on Saturday could take them off the foot of the table. Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke has not scored since the middle of September and will be keen to change that on Saturday afternoon, while no Sunderland player has scored more than three goals this season, highlighting part of the reason why they are bottom of the league.
KICK-OFF: 3.00pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS
Aston Villa 6 (Vlaar, Weimann, Benteke 3, Agbonlahor) Sunderland 1 (Rose), Premier League, April 2013
Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 1 (Agbonlahor), Premier League, November 2012
Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 0, Premier League, April 2012
STATS
Sunderland only have 1 goal in their last 3 Premier League games, while Aston Villa have 4.
Villa have not lost to Sunderland since January 2011, when Phil Bardsley scored the winning goal at Villa Park.
The home team has only won this fixture twice in the last 10 meetings in all competitions.
ODDS
Aston Villa: 1.95
Draw: 3.25
Sunderland: 4.2
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