Southampton v Aston Villa - Pre Match Thread

[OCD]

With their results it's almost as if they don't want to get into Europe.

[JUAN PABLO]

Got draw written all over it

4 4

[VancouverLion]

1-2 Benteke, Delph

[Axl Rose]

3-0 to the Villa

[robbo1874]

Gone for a win. Same reason as the west ham prediction. We need it more, we want it more and we have the quality to get a win there. Imagine there'll be a fair few villans in the crowd on Saturday too

[KRS]

Over 3000 Villa down at Southampton this weekend roaring the Villa boys on for 3pts!

[andyh]

So, we just need to do no worse than Hull this weekend to finally put this relegation malarkey to bed.

Its strange that we are both playing teams who appear desperate NOT to qualify for the Europa league.

I can see both Villa and Hull winning on Saturday, which suits me just fine.

[Toronto Villa]

I still think it might end in a draw but Sherwood will treat this game like last weeks and the one before where we simply have to win. I don't think he'll step off the pedal until it is mathematically certain that we are safe. And even then Burnley, last home game, full house, lovely weather; Sherwood will want to leave for Wembley on a real high.

[Villa Lew]

I'm very surprised that a lot of people seem happy with a draw, when Hull are playing a Spurs side, in very poor form, and are quite capable of getting all 3 points, as they did against Palace and Liverpool. We will then be going into the Burnley game with our fate still undecided, which is the last thing anybody wants.

[villa for life]

Really tough game this, and I feel it will be more about mentality than anything else.  If we retain the same focus and desire as in the last few games, we should win. However, Sherwood has got a really tough job getting the players to maintain that same level of  focus and concentration.

Fans on here have started to look towards the future with posts about what side we should play against Burnley before the Cup Final, but hopefully the management and players have nothing else in mind apart from grinding out another win.

Total focus is what we need. In Tim, we trust!

[tom jennings III]

It will be interesting to see who's in the squad on Saturday. Gil probably won't be again but I hope Sinclair is.

[AVH87]

2-2 draw, remain unbeaten for the rest of the season.

[PeterWithesShin]

Nathan Baker is back in training - but he won't be fit for the Southampton game on Saturday.

Tim Sherwood confirmed that the centre-half returned to the fields of Bodymoor Heath this week.

Baker has been out since coming off in the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

The 24-year-old has missed matches against Manchester City, Everton and West Ham with a knee injury.

However, the Saints clash will come too soon for the combative stopper.

But he will be assessed ahead of the Burnley and Arsenal encounters.

He said: "Nathan hasn't trained for too many days.

"It will be too early for him this weekend."

Sherwood also confirmed that Libor Kozak joins Chris Herd and Ciaran Clark on the sidelines.

Striker Kozak has injured his back.

It is not serious - just a "wear and tear" injury.

He, too, will be monitored in the closing weeks of the season.

Sherwood also revealed that Gary Gardner and Callum Robinson have been training with the first team this week.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

"the fields of Bodymoor Heath"

Epic!

[Monty]

Re Kozak, that can often happen when players have been out for a long time - the body sometimes takes a while to re-adjust to the old fitness training regimen.

Otherwise, it would be terrific to see Gardner in the team. Is he technically available for us? He's played so well, so these last two games seem like an ideal opportunity for him to try and take his Championship form into the Premier League.