Nobody in his right mind will admit to have predicted the scenario we are currently seeing. The Villains lie in 10th place, three points off Sunday's visitors, Manchester United, whoa re an unusual ninth position. A Villa win will mean bye bye to any slim title hopes still harboured by the red army. Even the most passionate Villa fan will still be in shock that fifteen games into the season, Villa are only adrift of Manchester United by three points.
After collecting just two points from a possible twelve in League play, United relieved some of the pressure put on them by themselves with a hard fought 1-0 win over Shakhtar on Tuesday. An insipid and de-motivating performance which left only one sweet memory-United won the group and will avoid the big dogs at least for one round in the Champions League. Morale depleting losses against Everton and Newcastle at Old Trafford have further piled the pressure on David Moyes who seems to be bereft of any technical/tactical know how we all thought in possessed in abundance. Even Everton fans who sang his name for ELEVEN YEARS have said that Roberto Martinez has achieved in four months what Moyes could not put together in more than one decade. A disgrace to his service to the Merseyside outfit. Now at a much bigger club, he has taken the red army from winners to also-rans in the space of 16 weeks and there might be more tears shed as the months roll by. No one would have envisaged such a dismal run in a Tournament United have owned for twenty years now. Now,another record is at stake. Moyes has broken all the existing records v teams around United in the League. It seems he has read his own riot act. Delivering poor results seem to be his stock-in-trade.
MUFC fans will take solace from the fact that their beloved club won four out of six matches vs credible opposition in Europe, but the PREMIER LEAGUE is the biggest trophy in the World to every Manchester United fan.. Even if it hasn't been won every time, it has been contested for with blood, sweat and tears. Being discarded by teams like Newcastle cannot be accepted again.
Aston Villa suffered defeat at Craven Cottage last Sunday but will look to bounce back this Sunday on their home turf. They are aware of what lies at stake and the form of Benteke is a thing of great worry for Paul Lambert, even though he tries his very best to hide it. Without the Belgian star's goals this season, they would have been nowhere and his strikes last terms saved them from relegation. Gabby Agbonlahor doesn't score often but has his heart on his sleeve every time he wears the colours of Villa. He cannot be relied upon to score the goals. Villa know they need to WIN.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
ASTON VILLA
Guizan, Bacuna, Clark, Herd, Baker, Delph, El Ahmadi, Westwood, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Benteke
Christian Benteke will be given another chance to end his longstanding goal drought on Sunday against the red devils. Villa are still without Captain, Ron Vlaar (calf), Libor Kozak (ankle) and Joe Bennett (back). Antonio Luna 9groin) could recover in time, while the match might come too soon for Charles N'Zogbia who is still suffering from a problem with his calf.
MANCHESTER UNITED
DDG, Rafa, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Fellaini, Anderson, Nani, Valencia, ROO, RVP
Adnan Januzaj may be rested after two full games in four days, while the likes of RVP, Evra, Vidic and Nani will most certainly be restored to the starting line-up after sitting out the midweek European game. Wayne Rooney is the best player in United colours this season and should partner the recuperating RVP in attack. United have to find their groove back and only the R-R combo can do it.
Rewind to last season and it was Villa who bore the brunt of the R-R wizardry when they teamed up to good effect to put three past the Birmingham based club on the way to sealing the 13th EPL crown for SAF and the club. Van Persie scored one of the League's greatest hat-tricks with some unbelievable finishes. A repeat of that will be music to the ears of the inconsolable supporters of the defending champions.
Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990
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