SM
Greece vs. England: 12 hrs 35 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
AV
Premier League
Jan 1, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
CP

0-0

 
FT

Preview: Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace

:Headline: Preview: Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace: ID:196304: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews the Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, who have Keith Millen in caretaker charge ahead of Alan Pardew's likely appointment.

The turn of the year will very much be a new dawn for Crystal Palace as they prepare for life under a new manager with a Premier League visit to Aston Villa.

Alan Pardew is widely expected to quit Newcastle United and be confirmed as successor to Neil Warnock, who was sacked on Saturday, in the coming days.

The 53-year-old has been given permission to speak to the club where he spent four years as a player, but will not be appointed in time to take charge at Villa Park.

Keith Millen, who oversaw the 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers, remains caretaker boss for the time being and will be hoping to end Palace's seven-match winless run with three New Year's Day points.

Captain Mile Jedinak has demanded whoever fills the Eagles hotseat to retain Millen's services for the relegation battle ahead, but Pardew may want to bring trusted number two John Carver with him to Selhurst Park.

Millen will be without his skipper for the trip to the Midlands as Jedinak will have departed for Asia Cup duty with Australia, but is otherwise unlikely to deter too far from the side which comfortably held Rangers.

The versatile Joel Ward could be moved into midfield to compensate for the loss of Jedinak, with Martin Kelly, who has not started either of Palace's last two games, coming back into the side at left-back.

Elsewhere, Fraizer Campbell may be recalled to give the visitors a greater focal point in attack, with Wilfried Zaha the most likely of Palace's pacey front three to be sacrificed. Marouane Chamakh remains sidelined.

2014 was another year of mediocrity for expectant Villa fans, and ended with a home stalemate against Sunderland which extended their winless run to four matches and left them 13th in the table.

Paul Lambert was nevertheless pleased with the battling qualities shown by his 10 men to keep out the Black Cats on Sunday, after midfielder Fabian Delph saw red for a second-half lunge on Jordi Gomez.

A failed appeal against the England international's suspension, Ashley Westwood's continued absence and doubts over Tom Cleverley's fitness leave Lambert a little light of options in the centre of the park.

Gabriel Agbonlahor and Kieran Richardson are back from their own bans to bolster the Villa ranks and should start, but Philippe Senderos, Libor Kozak, Nathan Baker and Joe Cole are all still missing.

There will also be a late fitness test for Ciaran Clark, with Jores Okore, who had been enjoying his longest run in the side before being rested against Sunderland, on standby to partner Ron Vlaar in defence.

The last three meetings between these sides have been decided by a 1-0 scoreline, including Villa's victory in London at the start of December, which came courtesy of a first-half Christian Benteke strike.

Villa:

Recent form: WWLDLD

Possible starting lineup: Guzan; Hutton, Vlaar, Okore, Cissokho; Sanchez, Cleverley, Richardson; Weimann, Agbonlahor, Benteke

Palace:

Recent form: LDDLLD

Possible starting lineup: Speroni; Kelly, Dann, Delaney, Ward; Jedinak, McArthur, Ledley; Bolasie, Puncheon, Campbell

Sports Mole says: 1-0


amp_article__196304 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2014-12-31 19:09:29:
html db last update - 2014-12-31 19:09:29 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Read more!
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .