Match Preview: Stoke City vs Aston Villa

Date: Saturday 23rd August

Kick Off: 15.00

Traditionally a fixture that always promises to be exciting and competitive with local pride at stake. A Midlands derby of sorts, this fixture promises an electric atmosphere in Stoke City’s first home game of the season. Tony Pulis will be hoping the Potters can put their nightmare start to the season behind them and focus on getting their home campaign up and running. Aston Villa will certainly be hoping for a repeat of their opening day performance which saw them put 4 past a lackluster Manchester City. With both sides feeling they can get a result we can expect both teams to be up for this match. 

 

On paper we could expect a comfortable Villa win from a side packed with pace and attacking threat but with the backing of a near sellout home crowd we cannot count the Potters out. Both sides possess plenty of height from set pieces and we can expect them to play a huge part in determining the result. 

In the Championship Stoke had a great deal of success from set plays and looked threatening in their first Premier league outing but, as they found out to their cost, in order to succeed at this level they must bury the few chances they are given. They will be boosted by the hopeful return to fitness of Liam Lawrence and Ricardo Fuller who netted 30 times in the league between them last season. Pending a work permit, new recruit Abdoulaye Faye should also be pushing for a start in defence. 1.3 million pound signing Andrew Davies is unlikely to start due to a lack of fitness. 

 

Martin O’Neill will be hoping that Gabriel Agbonlahor can continue the season as he started. The England international looked lively last weekend netting one and setting up another as Villa cruised past Manchester City. He just might well be the difference maker and possess the pace to put the Potters to the sword on Saturday. Villa will also be able to match Stoke’s aerial threat at set plays with John Carew and Martin Laursen the main candidates to cause problems for the vulnerable looking Potters backline. With the uncertainty surrounding Gareth Barry, he will want to continue to prove his loyalty to Villains fans with a good performance.

 

Overall, if Stoke learn from their mistakes against Bolton and the Britannia Stadium crowd plays its part then we can expect them to present a tough challenge for Aston Villa. If Villa can replicate their opening day performance then they will have the edge on pace and quality that could make the difference. Expect plenty of fast paced action and goals.

 

Recent meetings: Stoke City 0-2 Aston Villa (Friendly, August 2007)

 

Stoke Team news

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Aston Villa Team news

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Predicted Teams:

Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Faye, Shawcross, Griffin, Lawrence, Olofinjana, Whelan, Delap, Kitson, Fuller

Aston Villa: Friedel, L Young, Davies, Laursen, Shorey, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, Young, Carew, Agbonlahor

 

The Beautiful Game’s Verdict: Stoke City 1-3 Aston Villa

Best Bet 1^st Goal: Gabriel Agbonlahor