Villa v Wigan Preview

To win against Small Heath was great. But that is not the be all and end all of the season, or at least for a club like us it shouldn't be. Villa now need to go on a run of good performances and start picking up some serious points. Perhaps that is easier said than done judging by the fact our squad is still decimated with injuries, but Villa fans expect the team to at least show some battle. Wigan is a very important game, they have shocked many people so far this season with their excellent form, lets hope our experienced players aren't given a surprise.

Steven Davis said 'We gave the fans something to smile about on Sunday, but we still owe them after the last home performance. We let ourselves down against Middlesbrough. The gaffer made that clear enough and pointed out a few things when the players came back from international duty and we were much better against Blues. We need to make Villa Park a fortress again.

DOL says (about Bouma) 'It's a blow for us and for the lad. He looked a lot more like the player I know we've signed in the derby win and he was looking to build on that. We don't know how long he'll be out for yet, but it's not one you can rush back from.'

Paul Jewell said: 'Villa's match on Sunday against Birmingham was a hard fought victory, a typical derby game. Years ago they won the European Cup, and I know that David O'Leary has said that they are a million miles away from that, but they are one of the major clubs in the country with brilliant support, and a great stadium, good facilities, great players, and I'm sure if they get all their players fit they'll be challenging for a European place. This is a major test for us.'

Oh no. Another injury setback. Bouma who picked up a hamstring injury in training and will miss Saturdays game v Wigan. Jlloyd, the player Bouma was brought in to compete with, is also out with a shoulder injury. So far this season we've had Laursen, Hughes, Delaney, Cahill, Samuel, Baros, Phillips, McCann, De La Cruz and Mellberg all missing games due to injuries. Davis and Sorenson are our only remaining ever presents this season. DOL says that Baros will also not feature and that he went away with the Czechs, they played him, and he is now worse than before.

Give him a chance, he'll bury it. Especially as he is now returning to full fitness.

Midfield Lee McCulloch starts a three-match suspension following his red card against Newcastle. Alan Mahon, Steve McMillan and Josip Skoko are fighting for his place. Captain Arjan de Zeeuw has a knee injury but should be fit to play. David Connolly is pushing to start the up front.

3 goals so far this season in all competitions and not afraid to get stuck in.

Villa are 14th with 9 points.
Best Case: 11th (mathematically higher on goal difference).
Worst case: 18th
Current form league: 14th
Last six games: W L D L L W
Home form league: 11th. 1 win, 2 draws, 1 loss

Wigan are 6th with 16 points.
Best case 2nd.
Worst case 8th.
Current form league 2nd.
Last six games: W W D W W W
Away form league: 8th. 2 wins, 1 loss.

Head to heads in the leagues: No data. The only head to head was in the League Cup 94/95. Villa won 8-0 on aggregate.

Richard Beeby. 1 match, 0 reds, 3 yellows.

Well, the boys did good v Small Heath, but Wigan will prove a sterner test. Mystic Mug is caught between a home win and a draw and has decided to sit on the fence and say 1-1.

29/10/05 (Man City)
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