Aston Villa vs Burnley Match Thread 14:00 Sky Sports 1

JPA

Aston Villa's leading scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor is expected to return after missing the 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup with a leg injury.
Fellow forward Emile Heskey was forced off in that game with a groin problem but should also be available.
Burnley defender Leon Cort has recovered from the groin strain he suffered at Fulham.
Graham Alexander and Chris McCann could make comebacks from respective calf and knee injuries.

Aston Villa (from): Friedel, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock,
L Young, Downing, Milner, Petrov, A Young, Heskey, Agbonlahor, Carew, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Davies, Delph, Beye, Guzan.
Injured: Harewood (foot), Reo-Coker (ankle)

Burnley (from): Jensen, Mears, Fox, Carlisle, Bikey, Cort, Eagles, Edgar, Elliott, Cork, McDonald, Nugent, Paterson, Fletcher, Blake, Thompson, Duff, Jordan, Penny, Alexander, Gudjonsson, Kalvenes, Eckersley, Nimani, Weaver.
Doubtful: Alexander (calf), McCann (knee)
Injured: Caldwell (groin)

MATCH PREVIEW
While Villa contest the season's first major trophy at Wembley next weekend, every game is now a proverbial cup final for relegation-threatened Burnley.


The Lancashire side have the worst away record in the English leagues - one point from 13 games - and a run of five defeats in six has left them in the bottom three. A win on Sunday would make mugs out of cup hopefuls Villa.
The home side's looming Carling Cup final date against Manchester United masks their faltering challenge for a top-four finish. Villa have managed just one win - and three goals - in seven games. It is little wonder that manager Martin O'Neill has given his blessing to proposals for a play-off for the fourth Champions League slot.
Villa's lack of goals is at least partly offset by having the meanest defence in the top flight. Burnley, on the other hand, have conceded an average of two goals per game and gone nine hours without scoring away. Not even their celebrity supporter Alastair Campbell could put a positive spin on that.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
• Villa won 1-0 in the last meeting of the two clubs at Villa Park, a League Cup third-round tie in October 2005. James Milner played for Villa, on loan from Newcastle, while the Burnley side included current players Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Wade Elliott and Chris McCann.
• Burnley are unbeaten in their last seven league matches against Aston Villa since 1966, including three visits to Villa Park.


Aston Villa
• Villa are unbeaten in five league games, but have only won once in the last seven (W1, D4, L2).
• They are vying for a first league victory at Villa Park in two months, having endured a four-match winless streak since beating Stoke on 19 December.
• Exactly a year ago Villa were third in the league, seven points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal and nine points better off than now.
• Martin O'Neill's side have the best defensive record in the division and kept eight clean sheets in their last 11 league matches.

Burnley
• Burnley have only won one of their last 14 league matches - 2-1 at home against West Ham on 6 February.
• Their away form is the worst in the English leagues, having earned just one point from 13 matches. The Clarets have conceded two or more goals in all bar one of those games.
• They have lost seven successive away league games, the last six of them without scoring. It is exactly nine hours since they last scored an away goal (Chris Eagles in the 5-3 defeat at West Ham on 28 November).

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Aston Villa
Agbonlahor: 12 goals (10 league); Milner: 8 goals (4 league)

Burnley
Fletcher: 10 goals (6 league); Alexander: 6 goals (5 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistant referees: Mike Mullarkey & Stuart Burt
Fourth official: Martin Atkinson

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Aston Villa (D1-1 v Manchester United, h): Friedel; Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, L Young, Petrov (Sidwell 64), A Young, Milner, Delph (Carew 58), Downing, Agbonlahor. Subs not used: Guzan, Delfouneso, Davies, Salifou, Beye.
Burnley (L0-3 v Fulham, a): Jensen; Mears, Carlisle, Cort (Eagles 32), Edgar, Elliott (Cork 56), Bikey, McDonald, Fox, Fletcher, Nugent (Paterson 76). Subs not used: Weaver, Duff, Blake, Thompson.
MOST RECENT MEETING
Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa (21 November 2009)
Burnley scorer: Caldwell 9
Aston Villa scorer: Heskey 86

VILLA TEAM: Friedel; Cuellar, Dunne, Collins, Warnock; A Young, Downing, Milner, Petrov; Agbonlahor, Heskey. Subs: L Young, Sidwell, Carew, Delfouneso, Delph, Guzan, Beye.

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Cort, Fox, Eagles, Cork, Bikey, McDonald, Nugent, Fletcher.
Subs: Weaver, Duff, Paterson, Elliott, Blake, Nimani N'galou, Thompson.

everdead.ie

It's on SkySports1 Can't see anything but a Villa win here

Mitch Connor

couple of sendings off for Villa would be great.

Eire-Dearg

Jensen; Mears, Carlisle, Cort, Fox; Cork, Bikey, McDonald; Eagles, Fletcher, Nugent

shoutman

And we're off, will be hugely disappointed if Villa don't take the three points.

shoutman

Balls!
still fancy a villa win though.

everdead.ie

That was a really well taken goal by fletcher

Eire-Dearg

Fletcher is a class act, he's got great skill and a wicked strike.

Headshot

villa have been poor, more possession than Burnley but nothing in the final third, didnt even test the beast yet

Time Magazine

Aston Villa to win is still the favourite going by Betfair. That's a bit mental.

Time Magazine

Time Magazine wrote: »

That's a bit mental.

Maybe not

Headshot

Time Magazine wrote: »

Aston Villa to win is still the favourite going by Betfair. That's a bit mental.

bookies are usually right

1-1

villa dont deserve it thou

Mr Alan

ridiculous from burnley

shoutman

Shocking defending, but as a villa fan, i'll take it!

JPA

Hopefully Villa can get an early goal in the 2nd half.

shoutman

Get in! Thought he had wasted the chance when he took a few touches, great finish.

Headshot

shoutman wrote: »

Get in! Thought he had wasted the chance when he took a few touches, great finish.

get in again

JPA

GTFI.

shoutman

Bring off Gabby, Milner and Petrov please MON.

Heskey now. 4-1!

We want ten, we want ten!

Time Magazine

What an awesome seven minutes.

JPA

Fupping hell. Fantastic.

Neil3030

Time Magazine wrote: »

What an awesome seven minutes.

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID

MementoMori

Fantasy Football crediting Milner with two assists.

Is that correct?

Time Magazine

Hehe, anyone remember the last time Villa won 5-1? :pac:

JPA

MementoMori wrote: »

Fantasy Football crediting Milner with two assists.

Is that correct?

5-1 now! 3 assists I think.

shoutman

Time Magazine wrote: »

Hehe, anyone remember the last time Villa won 5-1? :pac:

Bolton earlier this season.

shoutman

Glad its Gabby coming off and not Heskey.

dfx-

How bad do you have to be to not beat Burnley at home:eek:

JPA

dfx- wrote: »

How bad do you have to be to not beat Burnley at home:eek:

I guess you have to be Man City.

Time Magazine

shoutman wrote: »

Bolton earlier this season.

Damn, you're right. I was thinking of Brum.

JPA

The Fonz is on.

JPA

Sidwell on for A. young.

JPA

Burnley score, 5-2 now. :mad: