Aston Villa v Fulham Pre-Match Thread

[SoccerHQ]

2-1 win.

[Uknowthescore]

4 2 villa benteke 2 Weimann 2,, we are staying up say we are staying up

[Ger Regan]

The last time we got the sort of praise from the press before this weekend was after Liverpool away. Please don't let history repeat itself.

[Irish villain]

The last time we got the sort of praise from the press before this weekend was after Liverpool away. Please don't let history repeat itself.

Indeed. It's been like that all season. They raved about as after we won at Anfield.

[MoetVillan]

2-1.  Berbatov to open the scoring, but Bennett and Benteke get us the three points

[MoetVillan]

oh, and Phil Dowd to pull a ham string just before the game as he reaches down to pick up a marsbar. The fat f@ck

[Villafirst]

Dowd? Have we ever won with that prick as the ref? Even so, 2-1 Villa (Benteke 2)

[KRS]

I cant see the road to survival being as simple as just picking up 3pts every week...Fulham are as good as safe on 39pts so I'll go for a draw as I was hoping for minimum 4pts from the Stoke and Fulham games. We're unlikely to walk away with anything from Old Trafford next time out so I'd be delighted to see a maximum 6pt return from these 2 games and should see us keep our head above water for when we play Sunderland.

[Legion]

Actually I don't know which scuppers our chances of a win more, Dowd as ref or Leeg as thread starter.

Pre-match only as mentioned in the Stoke post-match thread. Do keep up.

[neo_Villan]

The last time we got the sort of praise from the press before this weekend was after Liverpool away. Please don't let history repeat itself.

We have followed every major high this season with a low. Swansea win was followed by thumping at Soton. We all know what followed the win at Pool. And even the QPR win was followed by meek surrender to Pool. Hopefully we'll break that habit this Saturday.

[richard moore]

Hardly ever straightforward when we play Fulham, even when we were good, so I think we may just nick it 1-0. Vital 3 points before what one suspects will be a dead rubber against Yanited. Though you never know, they are not actually that good this season and it is a damning indictment on the Premier League that they are 12 points clear

[Greg N'Ash]

3-1 Villa
For those who've been following my predicting accuracy, sorry.

[Dave]

1-1

[olaftab]

We have followed every major high this season with a low. Swansea win was followed by thumping at Soton. We all know what followed the win at Pool. And even the QPR win was followed by meek surrender to Pool. Hopefully we'll break that habit this Saturday.

We have not followed every major high with a low however I do hope we don't mess up.

[robbo1874]

I don't think this is going to be the stroll in the park that many think it will be.

We've got a patchy, at best, record against them. They are safe and there is absolutely no pressure on them whatsoever to pick up points, so they can afford to sit back and let us come at them and hit us on the break.

Despite our recent upturn in form, our record at villa park this season is poor to say the least. Add to all this that we're by no means safe yet and there is huge pressure on us not to lose, I think we'll probably go safety first and aim not to lose rather than go out to win.

Whether this is the right approach is arguable, but its the natural tendency to try and protect what little advantage you've got rather than risk it. I'd love to see a big crowd, great atmosphere and for Villa to have a real go. However, I think it will be tense and we'll just try and keep it tight and not get beaten. Going for a draw. Prove me wrong Villa.