A win against Fulham would take Villa above our opponents on Saturday and lift us to the heady heights of mid table (31 Points). Fulham are terrible on the road with just one win away – yes we only have two – but then Man Utd have only won three away from home. Villa are performing much much better of late – this is exactly where we need to make the improvements count.
Fulham come to town on some interesting form. Losing to Liverpool, drubbing Spurs 4-0 and then defeating the joke Geordies 1-0 on Wednesday. There is no doubt they are a mixed bag – but this is a team that travels about as well as a hungover bloke with Delhi belly.
Fulhams threat? Damien Duff, though now having been around the block a bit, is a creative player with an eye for goal. Their real threat as I see it is Clint Dempsey. An American who still remains off the radar for many: skillful, deceptively pacey and also a fine finisher. He also comes across as being incredibly committed, but I have nothing other than watching his overall effort to base that on. What I do believe is that if they score, he will be involved.
This fixture should certainly allow for Villa newboys Makoun and Bent to get their hands on some average Premiership opposition. Bent should relish the opportunity to get amongst the Aaron Hughes’ of this world and I cannot see Makoun being phased by the aged Danny Murphy. We fans should collectively cross our fingers that the back four don’t have one of “those days” and that Houllier remembers that picking Carlos Cueller is allowed.
Prediction Corner:
The pace of Agbonlahor, passing of Makoun and goal machine that is Darren Bent will be too much for Mark Hughes’ Fulham. 2-0 to Villa.
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