Aston Villa visit Cardiff City and will attempt to do the double over the Welsh side [3-1 victory at Villa Park].
The prize is the possibility of reaching the dizzying heights of 8th in The Championship.
Striking distance of the playoffs.
Key Facts
- Jordan Ayew has been granted permission to join up with Ghanaian national team late (ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations commencing).
- Cardiff have kept just 1 clean sheet in their last 14 home games.
- Villa won just 2 times away from home this term. Reading and last time out at QPR.
- Villa were victorious in the reverse fixture, with Cardiff boss Neil Warnock critical of Jack Grealish. Villa won the game 3-1.
- Cardiff have won just once since this encounter.
- Defeat today could see Villa fall as low as 13th.
- Cardiff currently sit 4th bottom, with a 3 point gap to nearest side Blackburn Rovers.
- Cardiff have had some extra rest time as their last fixture against Brighton was postponed due to fog.
Summary
It’s quite simple really, if we are to have any aspirations of getting out of the division then beating Cardiff is a must.
Despite an upturn in form under Bruce, we have yet to go on a sustained run of victories. Indeed, the majority of wins have come against sides in the bottom 6. Sterner tests; Leeds, Norwich & Brighton have seen Villa struggle to capitalise.
Cardiff are struggling this season and after an early scare at Villa Park were comfortably beaten. The added dynamic this time is a tricky away tie against a side battling relegation, as we ponder how we’ll negotiate 6 games without Jonathan Kodjia.
The club must also put to bed it’s atrocious away form, which without correcting, can only see us languish in mid-table for the remainder of the season.
Prediction
Villa have enough on paper to do the job and the game also marks the start of Ross McCormack’s opportunity to show his worth. On the basis of the hosts recent showing at Villa Park, we should be single mindedly striving for victory and nothing else.
2-0 to Villa.