Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion: Birmingham Mail's experts give their views ahead of the game
Dec 11 2010 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
Our football pundits Chris Lepkowski and Mat Kendrick give their views on the big derby clash.
CL: So Mat, Mr Houllier – under a bit of pressure?
Are Albion really favourites for this game? No victories against Villa since 1985, no win for the Baggies at Villa Park since 1979. Surely it couldn’t happen ... could it?
MK: Chris, yes, it seems that way. While the Baggies have been boinging, the claret and blue brigade have been booing.
It’s been a worrying few weeks for Villa with three league defeats and a Carling Cup knockout by you know who.
Villa could probably do without another nuisance neighbour trying to steal their title as the region’s top club.
Having said that, a win over Albion would restore the confidence they have been sadly lacking. Any danger of Robbie and Co getting too big for their boots and taking Villa lightly?
CL: Well, pal, the punters will be confident – understandably – but I can’t imagine Roberto Di Matteo getting carried away. You could film any of his post-match press conferences, turn down the volume, yet you wouldn’t know whether they’d won or lost. Emotion isn’t his thing.
But the players will fancy it. They’re confident and play with a swagger when on form.
In many ways, Albion are the case-study for an ideal counter-attacking side.
Move the ball with pace, power and energy.
They will win more away than any Baggies top flight side for many years. It could happen again on Saturday, but then ... something still bugs me.
MK: Villa have written the rulebook for counter-attacking in recent years and with the pace of Gabby Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and, most excitingly, Marc Albrighton are still capable of hitting teams on the break.
They do a lack a cutting edge and Houllier is hoping the returning Emile Heskey can be the unlikely saviour when it comes to goals.
It says much about Heskey’s revival and Villa’s struggles that everyone’s favourite scapegoat was one of the best players before his knee op.
