Villa aiming to muscle in on Big Four
Reuters - Thursday 20 November 2008, 02:00
Aston Villa are the latest club
banging on the door of the Premier League's big four and after
victory at Arsenal last week they host champions Manchester
United on Saturday confident they are closing the gap.
Villa's 2-0 victory at the Emirates after a couple of
hiccups was proof that Villa boss Martin O'Neill's side are
capable of breaking the stranglehold and victory over United
would see them leapfrog Alex Ferguson's side.
With Curtis Davies, Gabriel Agbonlahor Gareth Barry and
Ashley Young all in the England squad for the midweek friendly
against Germany in Berlin, Villa fans believe the club is on the
verge of returning to the days when they were a force in Europe.
"The top four have set the standards. We want to close the
gap and break into that top bracket," midfielder James Milner
told the club's website on Wednesday.
"Champions League football is part of the aim. That's what
every footballer wants to do, we all want that at Villa.
"But we can't get carried away after one good result. We'll
need to be in the right frame of mind against United."
The real test, however, will be if Villa can produce
consistent results against the title contenders and cut out the
dreadful performances that cost them in defeats against
Middlesbrough and Newcastle United recently.
APPALLING RECORD
Villa, who last won the English title in 1981, have an
appalling home record against United in recent years and have to
go back to 2001 for the last time they managed a point.
Even so, United boss Alex Ferguson will be wary of the
threat they pose and is expected to recall striker Wayne Rooney
and defender Rio Ferdinand, who both missed last weekend's 5-0
hammering of Stoke City and England's trip to Berlin.
United cannot afford many more slips this season, having
fallen eight points behind leaders Chelsea and Liverpool, albeit
with a game in hand.
Chelsea, who lead the table on goal difference, are at home
to a struggling Newcastle United side that will be without
midfielder Joey Barton who has a knee injury.
Liverpool should have Steven Gerrard back for their home
game against Fulham after he missed England's friendly with a
well-documented thigh strain.
Gloom descended on Arsenal last week after the Villa defeat
and Theo Walcott dislocating his shoulder training with England
has added to the misery before the trip to Manchester City.
The Gunners are nine points adrift in the title race and
manager Arsene Wenger can ill afford any more bad news as his
players return to base from international duty.
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