Aston Villa v Manchester United

Headshot

V

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Villa Park Date: Wednesday, 10 February 2010 Kick-off: 1945 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio & highlights on Match of the Day

Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey is struggling to be fit for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United tomorrow evening. Heskey suffered a groin injury during Saturday's goalless draw at Tottenham and, although a scan revealed no major damage, Villa boss Martin O'Neill rates the England striker "doubtful" to face the Red Devils even though he is included in the squad. John Carew could replace Heskey in the starting line-up after recovering from a knee problem and coming on as a substitute at White Hart Lane. Left-back Stephen Warnock (ankle) is still unavailable as Villa attempt to complete their first league double over United for 55 years.

Veteran duo Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are set for recalls as Manchester United look to maintain their Barclays Premier League title push by winning at Aston Villa. The pair did not even make the bench for Saturday's 5-0 demolition of Portsmouth, which suggests they will face Martin O'Neill's men. Rio Ferdinand is suspended, while Nemanja Vidic has an outside chance of being involved for the first time this year after suffering a nerve problem in his leg last month.

Aston Villa (from): Friedel, Guzan, Beye, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, L Young, A Young, Petrov, Milner, Downing, Delph, Agbonlahor, Carew, Heskey, Delfouneso, Sidwell, Davies, Clark.

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Rafael, De Laet, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Park, Nani, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson, Anderson, Giggs, Rooney, Owen, Berbatov, Diouf.

unfortunately this match isnt live on sky sports, Setanta or ESPN
so it will be streams

here are some match facts

Head-to-head

• Villa's 1-0 win at Old Trafford in December was their first victory over United in 25 matches (in all competitions).

• In league games only, United have lost just one of their last 28 meetings with Villa (W20, D7, L1).

• United's last Premier League defeat at Villa Park came on the opening day of the 1995/96 season.

Aston Villa

• Villa have only won one of their last six league games, and failed to score in any of the other five.

• It is four hours and 59 minutes since they scored a league goal at Villa Park - John Carew's 61st-minute winner against Stoke on 19 December.

• Villa have kept four consecutive clean sheets, and eight in their last 10 Premier League matches.

Man Utd

• Sir Alex Ferguson's side have taken 19 points from their last seven games.

• United have benefited from nine own goals this season, more than any other top-flight side.

• They have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight Premier League away matches.

not sure what formation will saf put out
going for a 0-2 utd

The_Kew_Tour

Massive game for United must keep the pressure on Chelsea now, important to get a run going.

Think United will sneak this 1-0

Johner

Hope Villa win obviously but think it will be a draw.

CHD

I hope they batter United

Spiritoftheseventies

Dont see it happening tbh

Mitch Connor

i'm reckoning a draw to be honest,though with the form Rooney is in, anything is possible.

However, looking the other direction we'll need to be very carefull about the pace of Villa on the counter attack, and we'll need to make sure we pay attention on crosses, which we didnt do at OT against them this season.

as for the team/formation - I reckon:

---

VDS

Brown--Vidic--Evans--Evra

---Fletcher-Carrick-Giggs
Valencia

---

Nani

---

Rooeny

Could see park start ahead of either Nani or Valencia though, as I reckon Fergie will be worried about the threat down the wing from Villa.

Hopefully Vidic is back, no real idea what the story is with him at the moment, i thought he was due to be back vs Arsenal but there has been no sign of him since he was named on the bench vs City.

PHB

I think we have it in us to win it. Gosh, I used to just take these 3 points and put them in the bank. Villa are a team that normally just fold against us. But they stung us last time so

Anyway, with Rooney on the form he is in, I can't see us not scoring. And with people trying to get their place for the Milan came, everyone will be upping their game.

Raekwon

The Villa defence has been rock solid this season, I think Dunne & Collins have forged a formidable partnership at the heart of the defence and Friedel has been in outstanding form also.

I think the rest of the team have grown in confidence because of them and it looks like Villa have stepped up a gear this season compared to the last couple of campaigns. Plus with players like Milner, Young, Downing, Agbonlahor, etc. breaking away on counter attacks & causing mayhem at set pieces we can beat absolutely anyone on our day, as we have already proven with wins against Liverpool, Chelsea & you lot at Old Trafford.

So even if Rooney is playing out of his skin right now, I still don't see Man Utd taking anything more then a point from Villa Park, infact, I can actually see Villa doing a league double over Utd (when was the last time that happened?)

Should be a nice appetiser for the cup final in a few weeks

itsallgood

can you recommend a good site for streaming of matches,
always seem to get crap ones that freeze and cut out at half time

JimsAlterEgo

if Utd score early it could be a cracker but its the 2 best defences in the league so my monies on a 0-0. (might actualyl bet this as then it has no chance of happening )

Spiritoftheseventies

Itallsgood. go to the streaming post on soccer forum. some games cut out at half time because i don't think they are allowed to stream the half time analysis. Its trial and error most of the time but sopcast is a good enough one

killwill

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

Itallsgood. go to the streaming post on soccer forum. some games cut out at half time because i don't think they are allowed to stream the half time analysis. Its trial and error most of the time but sopcast is a good enough one

I can't fault Iraqgoals.net either.

Headshot

there's snow falling in Birmingham atm

wonder any chance of the game being postponed ?

Spiritoftheseventies

killwill wrote: »

I can't fault Iraqgoals.net either.

havent tried that one. Watching tonights game (the big one of course ) on sky sports two.

RandolphEsq

United with a half decent defence won't concede against goal shy Villa. United victory, a comfortable 2-0. Not a drubbing, but a solid 2-0

deisedevil

killwill wrote: »

I can't fault Iraqgoals.net either.

Really??

I have a 25mb connection and it can be very poor at times.

antod

a hard game to call but the form we are in at present and villa the past few wks form has dipped a bit so going for us to win 1-2

MagicMarker

The best offense of the season versus the best defense. It's a tough one alright, but I think UTD will win 1-2.

Neil3030

If we contain Rooney we have a chance. I really, really, really, really hope Fonz gets a start but I suspect it will be Carew, in which case it'll be punt, punt, punt all night from Villa.

JPA

Neil3030 wrote: »

If we contain Rooney we have a chance. I really, really, really, really hope Fonz gets a start but I suspect it will be Carew, in which case it'll be punt, punt, punt all night from Villa.

Delph starts in place of Heskey. Very surprising move.

Headshot

---

vds
raf--brown---evans----evra
fletch---scholes----carrick
nani---Rooney----Giggs


happy with the utd line up

great to see nani on the right again

MagicMarker

Headshot wrote: »

happy with the utd line up

great to see nani on the right again

Care to post it up for the rest of us?

edit: I too am happy with that line up, all we need now is a stable stream and we're golden!

Dave!

MACHAYYDAAAAAAA !!!!!

MagicMarker

Dave! wrote: »

MACHAYYDAAAAAAA !!!!!

Is he on the bench?

Headshot

MagicMarker wrote: »

Is he on the bench?

nope

nev
gibson
owen
foster
park
valenica
berba

Mr.Nice Guy

Looks a promising line-up. Hopefully United can edge it.

Headshot

i saw that JPA

nice bit of ninja deleting

Frisbee

Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Luke Young, Petrov, Ashley Young, Milner, Delph, Downing, Agbonlahor.

Subs: Guzan, Sidwell, Carew, Delfouneso, Davies, Salifou, Beye.


Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Brown, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Rooney, Giggs.

Subs: Foster, Neville, Owen, Berbatov, Park, Valencia, Gibson.

Nani actually gets to keep his place after a decent run, he's a real confidence player and if you can keep his confidence up he'll be vital to you in the run in imo.

Paul Tergat

Headshot wrote: »

i saw that JPA

nice bit of ninja deleting

I saw it too


Nice team.

Cmon UTD!!!!!!!!!!!

Neil3030

Frisbee wrote: »

Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Luke Young, Petrov, Ashley Young, Milner, Delph, Downing, Agbonlahor.

Subs: Guzan, Sidwell, Carew, Delfouneso, Davies, Salifou, Beye.

Be afraid, Mancs... be VERY afraid.

Headshot

Neil3030 wrote: »

Be afraid, Mancs... be VERY afraid.

pffft

ye're lucky kiko isnt on the bench

btw who is he Neil ?

redout

Interesting that Foster has made the bench ahead of PiG.

Bounty Hunter

Headshot wrote: »

pffft

ye're lucky kiko isnt on the bench

btw who is he Neil ?

why only the Togolese Zidane... o wait im not neil... Up The Villa!

Neil3030

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

why only the Togolese Zidane... o wait im not neil... Up The Villa!

Just imagine I said what he said... but a bit more Neil obviously.

JPA

This is such a big game for Delph. He's going to be excellent or get sent off.
If we had Warnock fit this would be my favourite team to put out. Delph in a 4-5-1, oh ya, something big is gonna happen.

Neil3030

JPA wrote: »

This is such a big game for Delph. He's going to be excellent or get sent off.
If we had Warnock fit this would be my favourite team to put out. Delph in a 4-5-1, oh ya, something big is gonna happen.

It's about bloody time! I reckon he'll play excellent and get sent off. UTV!

Kinetic^

Happy with the 451 approach from Villa tonight.

mrDerek

any streams yet?
whats that link iraqgoals would they have it tonight

Töpher

http://www.veetle.com/viewChannel.php?cid=4b728277d56bc

ctrl-alt-delete

Have decided to watch this game over the others,

Hoping it will be a good one. Am expecting Villa to test United with plenty of crosses, thats what they seem to like to do these days.

Pro. F

I don't fancy our chances in this at all. Villa to close us down all day and Rooney to be too isolated up front on his own.

I also don't fancy my chances of having a stream that works for very long

Zonda999

deisedevil wrote: »

Really??

I have a 25mb connection and it can be very poor at times.

Doesnt matter that you've superfast broadband, the problem is at the other end, only have 1mb here and iraqgoals is fine most of the time!

Can see a tight United win or a draw but going to go for 1-0 United

redout

Evra lucky not to get booked.

Töpher

Lol @ Evra's reaction!

MagicMarker

Way too many loose balls being played.

redout

Goal.............

1 - 0

Villa

Neil3030

CUELLLAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!

Pro. F

villa score

MagicMarker

Balls

PHB

Twas coming. We look slow in midfield with Giggs and Scholes, who normally make up for with good passing but its not there.

Cracking finish from Villa, Cracking.

Töpher

Lovely header.