Aston Villa v Reading Team News

[Legend]

This should be a regular feature in addition to prediction and ref watch threads this season. Looks like they have a few players out now Phillips has joined West Brom



Aston Villa defender Mark Delaney will have a fitness check to see whether he has recovered from a virus in time.

Gary Cahill (knee) and Wilfred Bouma (hamstring) are out but striker Kevin Phillips is in the squad despite being linked to Sunderland and West Brom.

Reading are without striker Dave Kitson after he damaged knee ligaments in their win over Middlesbrough.

Leroy Lita is set to start at Villa Park with Shane Long in line for a place on the bench.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill:
"The onus is on us as the home team to attack and we will try to do that," said O'Neill.
"I will have the same nervousness as I always do but I can't do anything about people's expectations.

"I just hope the Villa fans will still be on our side after 75 minutes because it means we are doing well."


Reading manager Steve Coppell said his side should not get carried away after their Premiership debut win against Middlesbrough on Saturday:
"One good result doesn't mean a great deal. We have to prove ourselves in this level."
Coppell paid tribute to manager Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill ahead of Wednesday's match at the Midlands club.

"Give them credit for their spirit in getting a draw at Arsenal. It's what you expect from an O'Neill team."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Aston Villa (from): Sorensen, Hughes, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Samuel, Davis, McCann, Barry, Agbonlahor, Moore, Angel, Hendrie, Djemba-Djemba, Laursen, Taylor, Phillips, Delaney.

Reading (from): Hahnemann, Stack, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Sodje, Halls, Shorey, Seol, Harper, Sidwell, Hunt, Gunnarsson, Convey, Oster, Doyle, Long, Lita, Cox.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BIG-MATCH FACTS

ASTON VILLA are guaranteed a rousing welcome as new manager Martin O'Neill takes his place in the dug out for this opening home clash against Premiership newcomers Reading. The match pits founder members of the League with the latest club to gain top flight status.

The Premiership's sole Midlands representatives are eager to add to their hard fought point against Arsenal on Saturday, when they upstaged the Gunners in their first competitive match at the Emirates Stadium, and even scored the first League goal at Arsenal's opulent new home, through Olof Mellberg.

Villa hold a 100% League record over Reading - won four of four.

READING pulled off the performance and the result of the opening day in beating Middlesbrough 3-2 to record a victory from their first ever match at the highest level of English League football in their 135-year history. Now Steve Coppell's side will want to build on that, having made a better start than last season.

The Championship champions scored 99 goals last season on their way to the title. They lost only two games - the opener home to Plymouth, and the trip to Luton. The visit to Kenilworth Road on 17 February was Reading's last away defeat.

The Royals have only met Villa 12 times in League and Cup, and have only experienced one victory. They won 1-0 at home, in a second round replay of the FA Cup in February 1912, and have since drawn one and lost nine in all competitions.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Premiership referees' table
Lee Mason's 2006-07 Premiership card count


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

ASTON VILLA


Club stats
Fixtures
Last season: 16th 42 points

1. The 1981-82 European champions, who last won major silverware when lifting the League Cup in 1996, are competing in their 96th season in the top flight and 19th in succession.

2. Villa were the Premiership draw specialists last season - 12 of the 38 matches ended all square (32%).

3. Took four games to record a victory last season, and won only one of their first eight Premiership contests.

4. Drawn their first two Premiership matches last season.

5. Liverpool were the last club to defeat Aston Villa in their opening home League match (0-1 on 18 August 2002).

6. Lost only one of the last six Premiership games at Villa Park (0-1 to Manchester City on 25 April).

READING


Club stats
Fixtures
Last season: Top, Championship

1. This is their 80th season as a League club, and first ever in the top division.

2. Lost their opening game against Plymouth 12 months ago, then went unbeaten in 33 (25 wins, eight draws).

3. On a 12-match undefeated League run (seven wins, five draws).

4. Unbeaten in five League games on the road.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

ASTON VILLA


Squad profiles
READING


Squad profiles


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Villa 4 wins, Reading 0, Draws 0
Prem: Villa 0 wins, Reading 0, Draws 0


HEAD TO HEAD at Villa
League: Villa 2 wins, Reading 0, Draws 0
Prem: Villa 0 wins, Reading 0, Draws 0

[Squelchy2507]

...striker Kevin Phillips is in the squad despite being linked to Sunderland and West Brom.

Not any more he isn't - just signed for West Brom in £700,000 deal.

[Bath Hoops]

No such thing as an easy game anymore, this is still one that I think we can get a draw from though. Shame that Kits is out for this but hopefully the team will learn from the mistakes on Saturday and Villa will find it harder to break us down. After Saturday I think we could do well here and the history book is out of the window now as far as any previous results. Good luck boys just keep that team spirit going and do us proud again.

[test icicles]

seem to have a lot of the defence out?

[Legend]

Looks like they have a few players out now Phillips has joined West Brom

...striker Kevin Phillips is in the squad despite being linked to Sunderland and West Brom.

Not any more he isn't - just signed for West Brom in £700,000 deal.

Think before you speak my friend.

[Ian Royal]

nice try with an edit leg end but the guy corrected you, get over it.

[rabidbee]

nice try with an edit leg end but the guy corrected you, get over it.

No, to be fair, Legend said at the start of his post that Phillips had moved, but then posted an article that I assume had been copied verbatim from another site, and written before Phillips had left Villa. If Legend had indicated more clearly a) what was a quote and b) who was the author, the confusion wouldn't have arisen, but he clearly didn't make the error (in fact, I doubt that there was an error).

[Ian Royal]

nice try with an edit leg end but the guy corrected you, get over it.

No, to be fair, Legend said at the start of his post that Phillips had moved, but then posted an article that I assume had been copied verbatim from another site, and written before Phillips had left Villa. If Legend had indicated more clearly a) what was a quote and b) who was the author, the confusion wouldn't have arisen, but he clearly didn't make the error (in fact, I doubt that there was an error).

meh

[rabidbee]

meh

[Ian Royal]

meh

Shrug of shoulders, nevermind expression. "meh"

[noise]

who cares

[Platypuss]

Surprised that Agbonlahor is getting starts - looked quick but not much else when he played for Wednesday against us last season.

[Legend]

nice try with an edit leg end but the guy corrected you, get over it.

No, to be fair, Legend said at the start of his post that Phillips had moved, but then posted an article that I assume had been copied verbatim from another site, and written before Phillips had left Villa. If Legend had indicated more clearly a) what was a quote and b) who was the author, the confusion wouldn't have arisen, but he clearly didn't make the error (in fact, I doubt that there was an error).

Team news taken from the BBC website.

It's quite clear which were my comments and which were those copied from another source. Shame some people can't quite grasp the concept, hey Ian

[bb0118]

[rabidbee]

Gary Cahill (knee) and Wilfred Bouma (hamstring) are out but striker Kevin Phillips is in the squad despite being linked to Sunderland and West Brom.

In addition, the OS says that Baros will also be missing for Villa. (They posted the article before Phillips moved, before anyone leaps in with that.)

And this was their team on Saturday:

Sorensen, Hughes, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Samuel,Agbonlahor, McCann, Davis (Hendrie 83), Barry,Angel (Laursen 90), Moore (Djemba-Djemba 89).

[The whole year inn]

We are more than capable of at least drawing this.

[Wycombe Royal]

If you want to read some views from Villa fans then follow the link. So who is going to regiaster and reply to the poster named Saurat?

http://astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=4105&posts=27

[Gordons Cumming]

If you want to read some views from Villa fans then follow the link. So who is going to regiaster and reply to the poster named Saurat?

http://astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=4105&posts=27

No need to register......TUBBZ has answered for us.

[Wycombe Royal]

If you want to read some views from Villa fans then follow the link. So who is going to regiaster and reply to the poster named Saurat?

http://astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=4105&posts=27

No need to register......TUBBZ has answered for us.

Did you read the final post from Saurat? Apparently we will never be a top flight club.

[Gordons Cumming]

If you want to read some views from Villa fans then follow the link. So who is going to regiaster and reply to the poster named Saurat?

http://astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=4105&posts=27

No need to register......TUBBZ has answered for us.

Did you read the final post from Saurat? Apparently we will never be a top flight club.

Yeah, after I posted arrogant brummie.
We'll get alot of that this season if we don't get a good start.