ASTON VILLA v READING - VILLANS IN A RIGHT ROYAL READING ROUT?
Villa got knocked out of the FA Cup at the hands of Manchester United last weekend leaving the Villans trophy-less for yet another season but you won’t hear a bad word said against manager Martin O’Neill on the stands at Villa Park. The mercurial Northern Irishman has led Villa to the dizzy heights of 7th in the Premier League and Uefa Cup football is certainly a realistic target. But why settle for second best you Villans, you are just a mere 3 points from a Champions League spot!
Villa have one of the smallest squads in the Premier League with 3 of their players Olof Mellberg, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Gareth Barry having to start all 24 matches (in all competitions) this season. That is an amazing statistic in this day and age of Premier League football where resting players and niggling injuries are the norm. The abnormality of these Villa ever-presents is highlighted by the fact that only 6 outfield players in the whole of the Premier League have played in all their teams’ matches this season, the non-Villa players being Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Sylvain Distin (Portsmouth) and George McCartney (West Ham). Without significant investment a squad as small as Villa’s will do well to keep in touch with the big boys come May. The Villans are unbeaten in their last 5 League matches including winning their last 2 games. They have scored in the last 16 League games and will be confident of extending that run against a defence as weak at Reading’s.
The Royal’s away form doesn’t make good reading for manager Steve Coppell. Not only have they failed to win on their travels this season but they also boast the worst away defensive record in the League averaging almost 3 goals conceded a game. This appalling defensive record shouldn’t be a surprise, after all Reading conceded 7 at Portsmouth in September and 6 at Tottenham in their last away game. Even Villa’s Luke Moore bereft of confidence, may fancy a goal or two after scoring just once in the League all season.
It is hard not to back Villa to continue their good recent form against one of the worst travellers in the division. So expect Stevie Coppell to be popping down to the chemists for a big box of travel sickness pills come Saturday evening as O’Neill’s push for European qualification continues.
Pundit’s Pick: More travel sickness pills needed for Coppell’s boys (home win)
Tags: 12/01/08, Aston Villa, Martin O'Neill, Premier League, Reading, ROyals, Steve Coppell, Villa Park, Villans
