Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Match Preview
Aston Villa picked up three points midweek with a 1-2 victory over Wigan at DW Stadium. An own goal from Wigan’s James McCarthy contributed to the Villa win. A strike from Villa midfielder James Milner sealed the victory.
Going into the Wigan match seventh-place Villa were on 46 points with two games in hand over fourth place Tottenham. Coming out of that match the Villains are still in seventh, but they’re now just three points behind Tottenham and they still have a game in hand.
With a heavy fixture list over the next few weeks manager Martin O’Neill has stated his concern over his players’ recovery between matches and expects to make changes in the team to balance the workload.
One player still unavailable for rotational duties, however, is Nigel Reo-Coker whose ankle injury is not yet healed.
Wolverhampton last met Villa in October at Molinuex. That game ended in a 1-1 draw.
With Villa in a scrap for the final Champions League spot and Wolves just three points above the relegation zone neither team can afford to squander points on Saturday.
Wolves are coming off a huge 1-2 victory over fellow strugglers Burnley at Turf Moor last weekend. Their victory was largely the result of Burnley blunders. Nevertheless, it was the kind of shot in the arm that manager Mick McCarthy and his men need as they fight for Premier League survival in the remaining fixtures.
Michael Kightly is still out with an ankle injury. David Edwards ankle injury, however, is nearly healed and he may be available for the Villa match.