What a feeling! Villa’s FA Cup win over West Brom sparked celebrations that have not been seen at VP since the destruction of Blackburn in the 2010 League Cup semi-final, although a considerable number of fans on both sides went out of their way to try and spoil the occasion. But before all of that started, Villa controlled a majority of the game, with goals from stand in skipper Fabian Delph and on loan winger Scott Sinclair coming either side of the very harsh red card for Claudio Yacob. But ignoring that, a win is a win and it is a result that takes us to Wembley and kick starts the Sherwood regime.
But this Saturday, it is back to league action for Villa as we travel north to Wearside to take on Sunderland. The reserve fixture of this clash was the last fixture of 2014 which ended in a drab 0-0 draw. Both of the two teams are amongst the lowest goal scores in the league this season, Sunderland have scored a measly 23 in 28 games and Villa have scored just 15.
Sunderland have struggled for large parts of the season, with the black cats sitting in 16th place, just one place and one point above Villa but with a much better goal difference. Their recent league form is nothing to be afraid of, with only 2 wins since the turn of the year with Gus Poyet’s side struggling to convert chances into goals despite the expensive acquisition of former England striker Jermain Defoe in January. Sunderland go into Saturday’s game with winger Adam Johnson suspended whilst allegations of a serious criminal offence are investigated and midfielder Lee Cattermole is suspended after picking up 10 bookings. Fellow midfielder Will Buckley is also expected to miss Saturday’s clash, whilst Billy Jones is expected to return for the black cats. Creative midfielder Emanuale Giaccherini is still side-lined for Sunderland.
Previous clashes at the Stadium of Light:
2013/2014- Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa
2012/2013- Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa
2011/2012- Sunderland 2-2 Aston Villa
Villa head into Saturday’s game on the back of two confidence boosting wins against our current Midland rivals. Sinclair sealed the win against the Baggies with Sherwood keen to carry on the winning streak when we face potential relegation rivals Sunderland. Sherwood has failed to win his only previous away game at Newcastle, whilst Villa have failed to win an away game since the win at Crystal Palace in December. Villa go into the game with further depletions to the regular first team squad as Hutton and Grealish serve suspensions picked up in the FA Cup clash last weekend. However, Sherwood is expected to welcome back Christian Benteke from the hip injury that kept him out last weekend. But skipper Ron Vlaar is likely to miss the game with a calf injury and full back Kieran Richardson is not expected to have completed his recovery from injury in time to take part, with Matt Lowton deputising at left back once again. There is also a chance for a few youngsters to stake their claim as Sherwood looks to plug the gaps, Lewis Kinsella has impressed the manager in training while 16 year old Rushain Heburn Murphy tweeted his excitement at travelling with the first team squad this weekend. Carles Gil is once again expected to be on the bench, with Sinclair and N Zogbia on the wings.
Villa go into this game knowing a win will do them a huge amount of good in terms of confidence and creating a buffer to the relegation zone with a horrendous run of fixtures just around the corner. Can Sherwood and his team grasp this chance and give us the result we all would love?
