19-12-09 Aston Villa vs Stoke City

Aston Villa are really starting to look like a side that can push into the top four this season, but stoke are a tough team for anyone to beat.

Martin O Neill’s side are in a rich vein of forn at the moment and many pundits are tipping them for top four success. An impressive away victory against Manchester United was followed by an equally impressive victory at The Stadium of Light, winning 2-0 against a Sunderland team known for their fine home record. Villa will believe that after two wins on the trot against tough opposition they really ought to win this game, and perhaps complacency will be their greatest enemy. Villa look a vibrant young side this season and James Milner is grabbing many headlines this year, both for breaking into England’s starting Eleven and also for his feats as a free scoring midfielder for Villa. Stoke will look to nullify this creative force to get anything out of the game.

Stoke City seem to have overcome the infighting which has dogged the team in recent weeks – with Manager Tony Pulis and Striker James Beattie putting down their swords after acrimony regarding the team Christmas Party! Of course, Team talk spats happen all the time in top level football and it perhaps shows the will to win in this Stoke team. Not known for their silky skills or flairful play, Stoke look to thwarte opposition and play a physicasl game that rely’s on being strong at the back and good in the air. Set Pieces will be key in this game and Villa will have to look at getting some of their larger forwards back to defend at times. Despite Stoke’s reasonably good record cagainst some of the better teams in the league, I can’t help feeling that Villa’s good run is set to continue for a while to come yet.

Verdict: Home win Aston Villa(1)
Odds: 2/5
Bookmaker: William Hill