So finally we arrive at the highly anticipated, televised 6 pointer, when the Pride of the Midlands make the short journey to take on the best team in Birmingham.
Villa, who come into the game on the back of a routine 3-0 win away at bottom of the table Sunderland are currently 3rd in the table, trailing the league leaders by 10 points. There has been much brave talk recently from Villa players, fans and manager of their intention to catch Wolves. It would probably be more practical now however to turn their focus on what is going on behind them. Fulham, just one point behind Villa, on an unbeaten run of 10 games and currently in unbeatable form are applying serious pressure, so it is clear that if Villa have aspirations of automatic promotion they can ill afford to lose a game, particularly this game!
Wolves despite maintaining their position at the top of the table where they have been since 31st October, have had some disappointing results of late. In their last 10 league games they have accumulated only 18 points, a marked difference to their performances earlier in the season. Boosted by their midweek 3-0 win over Leeds at Elland Road and the return of star midfielder Ruben Neves, they will go into this game full of confidence knowing that a win will extend their lead to 9 points over second placed Cardiff and will most likely see Villa drop to 4th in the table. Whereas a loss or a draw will mean that both teams remain in their relative league positions.
Gem’s prediction: 1-2
Live @ http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/386417
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Aston Villa v Wolves Match Preview [LIVE]
posted on 9/3/18
comment by Andy Grays cc... Deano and Dalian remember ut... (U4819)
posted 32 minutes ago
Ought to be a good game.............Good luck to Wolves but UTV
Last time we had a 5.30 ko and a WM Derby it ended in chaos but no Baggies this time
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Baggies are in downfall. A spent "force". Few will grieve their demise.
posted on 9/3/18
50
posted on 9/3/18
comment by bostonwolf (U17353)
posted 3 hours, 27 minutes ago
Thanks halfy, you'r a gud un.
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I’m aware of that bro
Your welcome ......
posted on 9/3/18
Lads
posted on 10/3/18
Should be a good game. We weren't at the races the last time we met; Bruce took a long time getting the players he's got firing.
IF he puts out the right team we should be a handful. He MIGHT though be a bit too cautious. But we had a very good run where we were scoring for fun. Expect us to be much more up for it in the middle of the park; that and the players we've got getting on the score sheet and it should be a very close match, with quite a few goals.
posted on 10/3/18
This game will be defined by who controls the midfield. Wolves have Neves coming back fresh and raring to go, Villa have lost Glenn Whelan to injury. So it will probably come down to whether Wolves take their goals coring chances when they get them and with Neves/Saiss or Neves/N'Diaye in midfield, they will get chances.
posted on 10/3/18
A wolves win today and I couldn’t see Villa finishing above them in the table. A draw would suit Wolves more than Villa and keep the gap at ten points. Villa need to win matches like this to stand a chance of automatic promotion
posted on 10/3/18
Both teams won 3-0 away in the week against teams that are struggling and that means both teams will go into today’s game high on confidence. Wolves adding Neves to the team that played well at Leeds is a further boost. But both teams today will come up against much better defences than they faced midweek so they won’t get as many goalscoring chances and I don’t see either team particularly dominating the game. And I certainly don’t see Bruce wanting an open game. So it could come down to which team is better on the day at taking the small number of chances they will get to score
posted on 10/3/18
Wouldn't play either Whelan or Jedinak in the Villa DM role; they have qualities but they're too slow against a fast attacking side.
Bjarnason did great there in our recent run of wins, does have the speed, and is more creative in passing forwards. He was key to us developing into an attacking side rather than one which ground out wins. Unfortunately, Bruce has a strong cautious streak and may opt for Jedinak, which could hand the initiative in midfield over to you.
posted on 10/3/18
Bruce playing Jedinak rather than Bjarnason. As feared. Think Wolves may have too much freedom in midfield.