Alan Hansen’s Premier League Preview: Blackburn v Aston Villa
Blackburn have endured a relatively poor start to the season and they face another tough test this weekend when they face a resurgent Aston Villa team at Ewood Park. History is not on Big Sam’s side as Rovers have failed to win against the Villans in the last 6 meetings home and away (5 defeats). This poor record includes three straight wins for Villa at Ewood and I’m tipping them to make this weekend number four.
Aston Villa have started to show the form of last season after picking up 4 straight wins against Liverpool, Fulham, Birmingham and Portsmouth. Defensively they’ve tightened up significantly with 3 successive clean-sheets which has coincided with the strengthening of the backline with Richard Dunne, James Collins and Stephen Warnock coming in. Back-to-back away wins at Anfield and St Andrews will have brought massive confidence to the side as will Villa’s record at Ewood Park. Gabriel Agbonlahor has also rediscovered the form and confidence that won him a place in Fabio Capello’s England squad with 3 goals in the last three league games.
Agbonlahor has a decent record against this weekend’s opponents too of 3 goals in his last 5 league games. Therefore, don’t be surprised if he gets on the scoresheet. Emile Heskey is likely to be on the bench but he too seems to enjoy playing against Blackburn. The big striker has scored 7 goals against them in his career which is his biggest haul against any Premier League side.
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Martin O’Neill’s side are aiming for their 5th successive league win, a feat they’ve not managed since 1998 and this is the club’s biggest points haul after five games since the 1998/99 season when they had just 1 point more than they do now.
This match may well be decided on set-pieces as Villa have scored 6 times already this season from dead-ball situations which is the highest number in the top flight while they’ve yet to concede in that manner. Blackburn are not the most prolific side having failed to score in 3 of their 5 games this season, so don’t be surprised if Villa take the points and another clean-sheet to make it 3 shut-outs in a row from their last three visits to Ewood Park. I’m backing O’Neill’s Villa team to pick up their 5th successive league win on this weekend’s Premier 10.
Tags: Alan Hansen, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Premier 10, Premier League
