Villa are back in action this evening when high flying Sheffield United (3rd – 54 Points) are visitors to Villa Park in the televised fixture at B6.
Villa had to settle for a point in an underwhelming goalless encounter in Berkshire last weekend against Reading (0-0) , a game which turned into yet another frustrating afternoon for Villa, with Tammy Abraham and Tommy Elphick’s fashioning the only clear cut chances.
The visit of The Blades will prove to be a challenging but vital clash in determining how competitive we truly are. The positivity of good performances throughout December, doesn’t mask that results haven’t matched.
13 draws this campaign underlines our ineffectiveness up front and in defence.
With United winning three out of their last six Championship games, thus firing them into 3rd place in the table.
They have not only solidified their playoff credentials, but arguably now have an eye on stalking the automatic playoff positions in the hope of either Leeds or Norwich slipping up.
Annoyingly, Villa risk being cut adrift in mid-table, with a four point gap remaining to the playoffs, as we now seem to routinely glance enviously upwards in the division at sides with lessor resource pushing on above us.
Key duo Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick have being in fine form this season for Sheffield United and Villa’s new look defence (featuring the controversial Tyrone Mings) must be on top of its game to prevent the trio them doing any damages to our leaky back four.
In an interview this week with AVTV Dion Dublin thinks that it is only a small matter of time before Aston Villa are back at the top again in the most famous Premier League and he strongly believes that manager Dean Smith can turn the club around and in doing so see our return to the top flight.
If this is to be a realistic dream for Aston Villa then Villa have no excuses other than to get back to winning ways, starting with securing 3 valuable points tonight.
PREDICTION
This is going to be a fascinating game of football. A win for Villa re-ignites playoff hopes. A defeat raises many questions about Villa’s season and whether we yet again find ourselves in transition. A draw, of course, does nothing for us at all.
Score Prediction:
Aston Villa 3 Sheffield United 2
With Tammy Abraham, Jonathan Kodjia and John Mcginn to be on the scoresheet for Villa
Key Facts
- Villa League position – 9th (43 Points)
- Villa can climb as high as 8th with a win.
- Sheffield United League Position – 3rd
- Villa last six – DLLDWD
- Sheffield United last six – WLWLDW
- Villa have only won one game at Villa Park since defeating Birmingham City back in November 2018.
- This solitary win came against bottom side Ipswich Town (2-1).
- Sheffield United have only failed to score in two of their matches this campaign.
- New signings Tyrone Mings and Tom Carroll are both in line to make home debuts.
- Scott Hogan is ineligible to face us after joining Utd on loan.
Contributed by Korben O’Brien
Edited by Dan Rogers