Form – City: LWWWLD, Villa: LWDWWW
Odds – City: 10/11, Draw: 13/5, Away: 10/3
Last Time Out – Villa 1-1 City (5/10/09)
This weekend City welcome fellow Euro hopefuls Aston Villa to Eastlands to share in that rarity of football extravaganzas; a 3pm Saturday kick off. The Midlands outfit will be looking to end this season by grabbing fourth place and putting the disappointment of a trophyless trip to the League Cup final behind them. Young, English and decent away from home Villa have attracted the attention of more than just Steven Gerrard this season as, impressively, seven of their current squad are in with a more-than-decent shout of an England World Cup spot.
With the race for fourth place as clear as Icelandic airspace at the moment, perhaps Saturday will see the dust settle and a clear leader emerge for that final Champions League spot. However with fellow fourth spot contenders Spurs playing a favourable fixture at home to Bolton this Saturday, the match at the City of Manchester Stadium may well just teach us who is still in with a shout when the season really erupts next weekend.
Last Time Out
A solid defensive display is the kindest label you could put on City’s latest dour affair at The Emirates. A game which produced no goals, no chances and no entertainment seemed to take an age to pass. Even the Arsenal faithful gave up booing returning striker Emmanuel Adebayor towards the end of the game. Eventually the full time came, Arsenal’s slim title chances were officially over and the point that City so painfully played for was awarded. Luckily, then, for Roberto Mancini that no recent City manager has been in trouble for too many draws.
Injustice was theme of the day at Villa Park last Sunday as inept time keeper Martin Atkinson added missing litigate challenges to his referring repertoire as he robbed Birmingham City of a derby point. The irony, of course, was that Villa manager Martin O’Neill had spent much of the preceding weeks complaining about poor referring decisions. The rest of the game was a lively affair and City can take heart at the fact that Birmingham outplayed the home side for much of the game.
Team News
Of course the focus throughout this week has been on City’s number one spot. After an unsuccessful bid to get back their own player City have turned to Hungarian giant Márton Fülöp to help steer them to fourth position. One feels as though the scrutiny of the whole situation may well just be on hold at the moment, waiting to be dug up and examined further if City don’t make that final spot or indeed if Fülöp flops on Saturday. In other team news Adebayor is struggling to shake of a strain and Gareth Barry doesn’t yet know if he’s grown the balls to face up to his old club.
Speaking of returning captains, Saturday marks ex City stalwart Richard Dunne’s first return to The City of Manchester Stadium since his move to Aston Villa. Dunne has been in fine form this season and his efforts have not gone unnoticed as he’s played himself into the PFA Team for 2009/2010. Whatever your views surrounding Dunne’s latter performances with City, I’m sure you agree he deserves a warm reception from the loyal fans he served so well during his time here. Now if only he could get back into the habit of scoring own goals… Bit part players Curtis Davies and Fabian Delph are Villa’s only absentees.
Look Mum’s Prediction
This is the prelude to the big one on Wednesday night. However we need to win to take full advantage of any positive result against Spurs. I believe we will do 2-0.