Villa v Bolton Premier League Preview: Can The Trotters Halt The Villans Charge Into Top Four?

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Aston Villa play, Gary Megson’s Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League at Villa Park on Saturday.

Martin O’Neill’s Villa side go into this match with Bolton on a 4-game unbeaten run, which has seen the Villans win at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal and more recently last Sunday at 3-2 at Goodison Park against Everton. Despite this run, Villa have failed to win their last three games at Villa Park, with O’Neill’s side drawing 0-0 against both Manchester United and Fulham and losing 2-1 to Middlesbrough. However, the Midlands club are 5th in the Premiership and just a point off the Champions League places.

The Trotters might have lost last weekend 2-0 to Chelsea at the Reebok Stadium, but have still won 4 of their last 6 matches in the Premiership, with wins against Sunderland, Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Hull City. Megson will be buoyed that Wanderers have taken more points away from home so far this season, but concerned about Bolton’s form at the Reebok, usually a hard place to get a result. With Bolton’s eratic home form seeing them only mid-table in 10th place in the Premier League.

Aston Villa, will be without striker John Carew, who has a back injury, while O’Neill is still unable to call on long-term absentee Wilfred Bouma, who is still six weeks away from a return to the Villans side with an ankle injury.

Gary Megson has almost a full compliment of players to choose from ahead of the trip to Villa Park, with only long-term injury Ricardo Vaz Te (knee) unavailable for the Trotters.

Aston Villa: (from) Friedel, Shorey, L Young, Laursen, Davies, Sidwell, Barry, Milner, A Young, Agbonlahor, Petrov, Delfouneso, Knight, Salifou, Reo-Coker, Guzan, Cuellar. Gardner, Osbourne

Bolton Wanderers: (from) Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Nolan, Samuel, Cahill, Muamba, Taylor, J O’Brien, Elmander, Smolarek, Gardner, Davies, Steinsson, Riga, McCann, Al Habsi, Shittu, Cohen, Sinclair, Fojut, Harsanyi, Basham, A O’Brien, Sissons

Villa v Boro Premiership Preview: Laursen, Barry & Reo-Coker Set For Villa Recalls – Huth In Contention For Middlesbrough

Aston Villa play, Gareth Southgate’s Middlesbrough in the Premier League at Villa Park on Sunday.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill will go into this clash with Boro full of confidence, despite losing 2-0 to Newcastle United at St James’ Park last Monday. The Villans are top of their UEFA Cup group and 5th in the Premiership, with the defeat against the Magpies the first since the International break. O’Neill will be confident of collecting all three points at against Middlesbrough, with the Midlands club unbeaten at Villa Park this season.

Southgate will be wondering which Boro team will turn up at Villa, the team that beat Manchester City 2-0 at the Riverside Stadium 10 days ago or the one that has lost to West Bromwich Albion and North East rivals Sunderland this season. Boro have lost 3 of their five away matches this season and are just off the pace in the Premier League in 8th place.

Villa, are unable to call on Stiliyan Petrov (hamstring), who will be out for 2 weeks and long-term absentee Wilfred Bouma (ankle). O’Neill is likely to recall captain Martin Laursen along with Gareth Barry, Nigel Reo-Coker and keeper Brad Friedel, who were all rested for the UEFA Cup win over Slavia Prague on Thursday.

Boro will be without Rhys Williams (knee) and Mohamed Shawky (thigh), but could welcome back defender Robert Huth for the trip to the Midlands if the former Chelsea player shakes off a foot injury in time.

Aston Villa: (from) Friedel, Guzan, L Young, Cuellar, Laursen, Davies, Shorey, Milner, Routledge, Barry, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, A Young, Carew, Agbonlahor, Harewood, Knight, Gardner, Salifou, Osbourne, Delfouneso

Middlesbrough: (from) Turnbull, Huth, Hoyte, Wheater, Taylor, O’Neil, Riggott, Pogatetz, Digard, Mido, Aliadiere, Emnes, Alves, Tuncay, Downing, Arca, Jones, Bates, A Johnson, J Johnson, McMahon, Stelle, Porritt, Owens, Hines, Grounds, Walker