Aston Villa v Everton (Match-Preview)
Everton arrive at Villa Park for a crucial Premier League fixture this weekend confident that they can overtake Villa in fifth spot and push Arsenal for a Champions League spot. Whilst most commentators have been discussing the intriguing Villa v Arsenal surge for fourth spot, Everton have crept up to just one point behind Villa going into the final seven games of the season.
The last meeting between the two sides was a gripping FA Cup encounter in February which Everton won 3-1. Since then the contrast between the sides has been noticeable. Everton have lost only once since that day (A Peter Crouch brace enough to see Portsmouth win 2-1 at Fratton Park a few weeks ago) while Villa haven’t won a single match since. O’Neill was full of praise after last weekend’s dramatic defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The individual errors and defensive frailty which has haunted Aston Villa in recent times hadn’t gone away but from an attacking viewpoint, Villa were terrific.
Everton were very impressive in beating Wigan 4-0 last Sunday. Two more goals from on-loan striker Jo have made him an immediate Goodison Park cult hero. Many people in the game raised a few signings when Moyles brought him into the club but so far, it’s looking like one of the wisest managerial decisions of the season.
There has been some tension around Villa Park in the last few weeks leading to Martin O’Neill coming out in the press yesterday to state that he isn’t going to explain every single decision he makes and that he will ‘review’ his position if he feels that he isn’t making good progress.
The vast majority of Villa fans I know are totally behind Martin O’Neill and many absolutely worship the guy. I can’t imagine life at the football club without him, John Robertson and the back room staff at Villa Park. However, nobody should be immune to criticism and Martin O’Neill seems to over-reacting somewhat and becoming a bit tetchy. Many of the fan debates recently have been typical pub chat about what system we should play, individual players and what areas need sorting out in the summer.
The only real criticism O’Neill has received this season centre around his inability to add more quality to the squad in January (something O’Neill has hinted he may have got wrong and is looking to tackle in the summer), the UEFA Cup debacle (and the fan view is very split on whether he done the right thing or not) and the Emile Heskey signing (which has proved so far at least to be fairly unpopular). Such debate may linger on until the end of the season but perspective is crucial. Few people realistically expected us to be seriously challenging for fourth spot this season. The slide has been dramatic and worrying but I sense that Sunday is the day things turn in our favour again.
Gabriel Agbonlahor - who made such an impressive return to the side last week - is doubtful for the match with a virus and Emile Heskey is still not fit. Whether this forces O’Neill back to 4-5-1 remains to be seen. Carlos Cuellar could also miss out with a back problem so Zat Knight could return to resume partnership Curtis Davies. The bad news for all Villa fans is the continued loss of Martin Laursen. O’Neill admitted recently that the big man is ‘suffering’ and some reports have even stated that he is fighting to save his career.
Everton are impressive and have quality throughout their side. They are a lot tighter at the back lately, have some real quality in midfield and are not shy of goalscoring threats too. But I simply can’t back against Villa in what amounts to a make or break game. I’m hoping for a cracking atmosphere and I expect a very open and high scoring game. Both sides will be going for it. As is often the case between these two sides when they meet, the referee will need to be strong as tensions will be high. I’m tipping a narrow Villa win and plenty of bitten fingernails.
My Prediction: Aston Villa 3 Everton 2
