Kick-Off: Saturday, February 7, 15.00 GMT.
Ewood Park, Blackburn.
Ewood Park, Blackburn.
Sitting Pretty
Despite being held to a goalless draw last time out, Aston Villa remain in fourth place in the Premier League, five points ahead of Arsenal and looking increasingly like securing Champions League football next season.
Martin O’Neill’s men also confirmed their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup in midweek, comfortably beating Championship side Doncaster Rovers, albeit in a replay at Villa Park.
Next up for the Villans is the chance to secure a club record seventh successive away win, against a team in the relegation zone and on a ground when they triumphed 4-0 last season.
Holy Grail
Whilst O’Neill was thrilled to see his side overcome Doncaster on Wednesday night and book themselves an FA Cup last 16 tie with Everton, he has this week admitted that the Premier League remains Villa’s ‘Holy Grail’.
With that in mind, the Irishman managed to rest several key players against Doncaster, including Gabriel Agbonlahor, Gareth Barry, James Milner and Brad Friedel ahead of Saturday’s fixture.
With Emile Heskey now on the books and the likes of Ashley Young and John Carew back in the squad, Villa possess real strength in depth and their current position may well have added strength to Arsenal’s desire to recruit Andrey Arshavin.
Whilst Ewood Park is not the easiest away ground to visit, the Midlanders' away form is lethal, and with the chance to, temporarily at least, move level on points with Liverpool, who play later in the day, a fit and relatively fresh Villa squad will surely be relishing their trip north.
Stopping The Rot
However, whilst Blackburn remain mired in trouble, sitting in the drop zone and indeed only one point off the bottom, Sam Allardyce’s men are on a decent run of form.
Rovers are unbeaten in their last nine games, since ‘Big Sam’ took over, and haven’t suffered defeat since the beginning of December when Wigan Athletic triumphed 3-0.
Furthermore, the Ewood Park outfit tasted FA Cup success in midweek, with a 2-1 victory over Sunderland,
The win means they will now play Championship side Coventry City at home in the fifth round and they will fancy their chances of reaching the quarter-finals of the competition.
Santa Cruz Stays
Whilst the cup will prove a welcome distraction to Rovers’ season, Premier League survival remains the priority.
Allardyce received a welcome boost this week after managing to keep hold of star striker Roque Santa Cruz, despite strong interest from Manchester City.
Although it looks unlikely the Paraguayan will remain at Ewood Park beyond this season, with the transfer window closed and his immediate future now confirmed, Blackburn will be hoping to he can reproduce last season’s form.
Santa Cruz hit 19 goals in the league last term, and whilst he has managed only a paltry three in this campaign, the Ewood Park faithful will now be hoping he can add to this tally and provide the goals that will see them to safety.
FORM GUIDE
Blackburn Rovers
Feb 4: Blackburn 2-1 Sunderland
Jan 31: Middlesbrough 0-0 Blackburn
Jan 28: Blackburn 2-2 Bolton
Jan 24: Sunderland 0-0 Blackburn
Jan 17: Blackburn 3-0 Newcastle
Aston Villa
Feb 4: Aston Villa 3-1 Doncaster Rovers
Jan 31: Aston Villa 0-0 Wigan Athletic
Jan 27: Portsmouth 0-1 Aston Villa
Jan 24: Doncaster 0-0 Aston Villa
Jan 17: Sunderland 1-2 Aston Villa
TEAM NEWS
Blackburn Rovers
Brett Emerton is out for the season but Allardyce could hand new signing El Hadji Diouf a first Rovers start.
Possible Starting XI: Robinson, Ooijer, Nelsen, Samba, Warnock, Dunn, Diouf, Grella, Pedersen, McCarthy, Roque Santa Cruz.
Aston Villa
After resting a number of key players in midweek, O’Neill will welcome back the likes of Gareth Barry, Gabriel Agbonlahor and James Milner to his starting lineup.
Emile Heskey is also likely to return meaning fit again John Carew may have to settle for a place on the bench.
Possible Starting XI: Friedel, Cuellar, Knight, Davies, Luke Young, Ashley Young, Petrov, Barry, Milner, Heskey, Agbonlahor.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Blackburn Rovers – Roque Santa Cruz
Blackburn managed to resist the advances of Manchester City and hold on to striker Roque Santa Cruz in the transfer window, which may prove to be a vital bit of non-business.
Whilst the former Bayern Munich man appeared to be keen on linking up with former boss Mark Hughes, he remains at Ewood Park and in the midst of a relegation battle.
Although he has managed only three goals in the Premier League so far this season, Sam Allardyce must now be hoping the Paraguayan can score the goals that will keep relegation at bay
Aston Villa – Ashley Young
Ashley Young returns to Premier League action for the first time since he picked up a red card, and a three match ban, at the Stadium of Light.
Whilst Villa have maintained their place in the top four without their talisman, he was missed last week against Wigan Athletic, who ground out a goalless draw at Villa Park.
Young returned, and was surprisingly named as captain, in midweek in the FA Cup win against Doncaster, and his invention will surely be required to break down what promises to be a stubborn Rovers defence.
PREDICTION
Recent form and home advantage suggest Blackburn will be a tough challenge for Villa, but if they are intent on finishing in the top four, this is surely a must-win game for O’Neill’s men.
Both sides were in action in midweek, albeit with much changed squads, although Rovers were required to play extra-time which could prove a factor.
Villa, meanwhile, have the opportunity of claiming a club record and the chance to move level with Liverpool on Saturday, which suggests they may just hand ‘Big Sam’ his first defeat as Blackburn boss.
Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Aston Villa
