Manchester United v Aston Villa (Match Preview)
1983: Bjorn Borg retires from tennis, red rain falls in the UK, Margaret Thatcher wins a landslide election victory over Michael Foot and Aston Villa defeat Manchester United at old Trafford.
Since November 5th 1983 when Peter Withe’s brace won the day in Manchester, Villa have failed to win a single game at Old Trafford. There have been a few near misses along the way..Graham Taylor’s Villa came close in his second spell in charge but mostly it’s been misery and humiliation for Villa’s travelling army of fans. John Gregory once famously said that his Villa side were like ‘autograph hunters’ going to Old Trafford and were often beaten before a ball had been kicked.
Martin O’Neill brings his shellshocked Villa side to Old Trafford on Sunday hoping that it wont be another case of ‘theatre of screams’ for the boys in claret and blue. The Villa boss is likely to be without Emile Heskey who returned home from England’s training camp after injuring his hamstring minutes after scoring against Slovakia. Gabriel Agbonlahor is also a slight risk for Villa as O’Neill contemplates whether or not to return to the 4-5-1 formation that was so successful for him earlier in the season. Good news is on the horizon for O’Neill with news that Wilfred Bouma and Martin Laursen are very close to returning to action.
Manchester United go into the game one point ahead of Liverpool at the top of the Barclays Premier League table and have a crucial game in hand. A shock 4-1 home defeat to Liverpool followed by a 2-0 defeat at Roy Hodgson’s vastly improved Fulham side means that there is now some pressure on Sir Alex Fergison to get United back on track. United will be without Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic but still have quality players throughout the squad to compensate. I always think that some of their players like Ji-Sung Park never really get the full credit they deserve.
Villa will need to recover fast from a harrowing 5-0 defeat at Anfield last week. The confidence and spirit that was so evident in Villa’s play for much of this season has been eroded badly by as poor run of results that has seen the Villa fans frustrated and annoyed at some of the decisions made by manager Martin O’Neill. His signing of Emile Heskey and decision to effectively throw away any chance of competing in the UEFA Cup this season have proved to be very unpopular with the Villa faithful. Villa have won just once in their last nine games and have seen a six point lead in fourth spot overturned by Arsenal who now have a three point advantage. O’Neill will be hoping for more of the spirit that his side showed in Villa’s impressive 0-0 draw against United in November.
But there remains a big worry that Villa’s season will now just slide away from them. The feel good factor that was so evident in supporters, manager and players during Villa’s impressive long unbeaten run seems to have faded away fast. And Old Trafford is never a nice place to visit when you’re struggling. For United, Fergison is the master at facing pressure and making critics eat their words. I can’t see him or his side being in any mood to let any more points slip away at such a crucial stage in the season. Villa were guilt of giving Liverpool far too much room in midfield to dominate the game and not being tight enough at the back. I’m sure Villa will come good again, re-group and start winning some matches..but I can’t see it starting at Old Trafford.
My Prediction: Manchester United 3 Aston Villa 0
