BUILD UP
With the conclusion of March’s international break, domestic football is back and Aston Villa make the short trip across the Midlands as Bruno Lage’s Wolverhampton Wanderers await them at Molineux in round 31 of the Premier League season.
It has been two weeks since Villa’s last match, in what was the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Mikel Arteta’s impressive Gunners at Villa Park. England starlet Bukayo Saka scored the sole goal of the game, on a day that saw Arsenal complete the season’s double over Steven Gerrard’s men.
In that time, many Villans have been away representing their countries in either friendly games or World Cup qualifiers in preparation for the highly anticipated tournament in Qatar at the end of the year.
The likes of John McGinn, Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey all found themselves on the score-sheet for their respective sides, with other names such as Matty Cash, Lucas Digne and Bertrand Traoré all racking up valuable minutes for their nations.
This week’s opponents are Wolverhampton Wanderers who currently sit a place above Aston Villa having played a game extra, but are 10 points clear of their midlands rivals. Wolves have had a successful season under Bruno Lage’s stewardship, and are right in the mix to achieve European football for next season.
The two sides met earlier this season at Villa Park, in what was one of the most disappointing results from a Villa standpoint, after letting a 2-0 lead slip within the last 10 minutes of the tie. Rúben Neves’ 95th minute deflected free-kick sent the travelling Wanderers fans into raptures, after first-half goals from Danny Ings and John McGinn looked to send Villa well on their way to beating their noisy neighbors before capitulating at the death.
Steven Gerrard will look to build upon the progression his team has made since his appointment and will hope his squad of players can continue their fine form from their international ventures into club football, as his Villans seek revenge upon Wolves.
Can Gerrard’s men enter the final nine games of the season with a victory over their Midlands rivals, or will Bruno Lage’s men become the fifth team this season to do the double over Aston Villa and put more points on the board towards their European aims?
Let’s take a closer look at the team news for both sides heading into this one…
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TEAM NEWS
Aston Villa passed through the international period unscathed, and the two week break was incredibly beneficial for the West Midlands side, as it saw many players perform well and hit form – something Steven Gerrard will hope can carry with them back to Bodymoor Heath, as his side prepares for weekend action against Wolves.
Lucas Digne returned to action for the French national side, after missing the recent Arsenal fixture through a hamstring injury, sustained in the opening minutes of the penultimate affair at the London Stadium against West Ham. Digne tallied up 90 minutes in Les Bleus’ recent friendly victory over South Africa, having been an unused substitute in the other win over Ivory Coast. The full-back puts himself right into contention ahead of Saturday’s game at Molineux, and will be challenging Ashley Young, who took his place, for that starting position.
Kortney Hause also missed the Arsenal fixture through what was reported as an abdominal strain, but is expected to return to the match-day squad this weekend, with the two week break coming at a good time for the centre-back in regards to recovery.
Midfielder Marvelous Nakamba could return to action for Mark Delaney’s U23 side, as they face Stoke City U23’s on Friday night (after this was written). The Zimbabwean hopes to be back ready for first-team action against Tottenham Hotspur next weekend, as he appears to be closing out his recovery from the knee injury picked up against Liverpool back in December.
Aside from this, Steven Gerrard is expected to have a fully fit squad, all whom which look to be involved this weekend, with names such as Philippe Coutinho, Ollie Watkins and John McGinn expected to feature from the get-go on Saturday afternoon.
This week’s opponents, Wolves, have a few injury concerns ahead of the weekend themselves, with the previous affair’s game-winner Rúben Neves ruled out with a knee injury. The midfielder was taken off in the 3-2 defeat against Leeds United last time out, and missed Portugal’s important qualifiers as a result, but Cristiano Ronaldo and Co were able to advance regardless. Wolves’ No.8 will be out until May at the latest and will be a big miss for Bruno Lage and his side in that time.
The Wanderers will also be without young defender Ki-Jana Hoever who has missed the last three fixtures with an injury sustained in the opening quarter of the 2-0 defeat against Patrick Viera’s Crystal Palace at the start of March. The Dutchman was criticised by his boss after the game, with Lage explaining the injury came about due to a “failure to prepare himself properly.”
Star forward Raúl Jiménez will miss the big game too, as he begins his two-match suspension having picked up two yellow cards in what kick-started his side’s downfall against Jesse Marsch’s Leeds United. Korean striker Hwang Hee-chan is expected to be the direct replacement for the Mexican.
Finally, Portuguese duo Pedro Neto and Nélson Semedo are touch and go for Saturday, with the pair missing the Leeds United fixture. Semedo has been out since February with a hamstring injury, but could return, whilst the tricky Neto reportedly missed the recent game through a foot injury. The two would have had the full extent of the international break to recover and prepare for the return of Premier League football, and as a result look to be back in contention.
With that being said, let’s take a closer look at the opposition, Wolverhampton Wanderers, ahead of the ‘Midlands derby’ this Saturday…
THE OPPOSITION
Bruno Lage’s men currently find themselves in a mixed vein of form, with impressive victories over Watford and Everton in recent weeks, but disappointing defeats at the hands of Leeds United and Crystal Palace in the last four fixtures. This run of games summaries Wolves’s general form this season, with convincing victories throughout, but the occasional underwhelming and inconsistent performances that have cost them their chance at a top four battle.
A top seven finish is certainly still on the cards for the Midlands-based side, as they are two points off David Moyes’ West Ham in 7th, and four points off the top six and Manchester United. The final run-in of the season looks to be an exciting one, and the battle for European football is as tight as it has ever been. Wolves will need to find some consistency heading into their remaining eight fixtures if they want to play European football next season.
Bruno Lage has installed solidarity within the Wolves’ side since his appointment at the start of the season, and his side boast a fourth-best defensive record in the league, behind only Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, with just 26 goals conceded in their 30 games played.
Goalkeeper José Sá is a big reason behind these spectacular numbers, and the Portuguese No.1 is surely one of the signings of the season after what has been a hugely impressive first campaign in the Premier League. Replacing former shot-stopper Rui Patrício in net, Sá has formed a well-tuned defensive unit for Wolverhampton Wanderers, with captain Conor Coady having another impressive season at the heart of the back-line too.
So where does the problem lie for Wolves? They have been flirting with European finishes for many seasons now, and with top-four defensive figures this season, the issue must stem from the other end of the field. Despite one of the best ‘goals conceded’ statistics in the league, Lage’s men only have a goal difference of +5, meaning they have scored just 31 goals in their 30 fixtures – just over a goal per game.
Star man Raúl Jimenez has just six goals in his 28 appearances this season, and whilst it is a season on the back of his terrible head injury sustained in the fixture against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last year, it has been an incredibly underwhelming showing from the No.9 in-front of goal this campaign.
Summer signing Hwang Hee-chan has just five goals in the 22 games he has been a part of too – very concerning numbers for two forwards who play vital roles in a side pushing for the heights of Europe.
The wingers, whilst very talented and exciting, do not contribute enough in terms of goals either, with regulars Daniel Podence and Francisco Trincão bagging just three goals between them all year. The absence of Pedro Neto, who has missed a large part of the season through injury, has certainly affected the side in the final-third, but there is still enough quality in the offensive departments to make a difference and create goals. Wolves will need to find that cutting edge from somewhere as the season closes out, starting with the next challenge at home to Aston Villa.
Let’s now take a look at my thoughts on Saturday afternoon’s big game at Molineux…
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am quietly confident ahead of this weekend’s game, but am possibly letting the absence of Wolves’ key men (Neves, Jimenez, etc.) excite me too much, as Bruno Lage has a well-saturated squad with an abundance of talented players who can do as a good a job in the missing men’s places.
Players such as Daniel Podence, Pedro Neto and loanee Francisco Trincão are players I am a big fan of, and are forwards who cause many problems for each defender they face. The trio are tricky and are in their element when running one on one against a defending opponent. It will be important to eradicate such scenarios from Saturday’s fixture, but Gerrard’s tendency to ‘team up’ down the wings, with the ‘8s’ supporting the full-back out of possession, should help to contain these concerns.
Another worry for me presents itself in the form of set-pieces, and whilst we boast good numbers regarding corners and free-kicks, so do Wolves, and the likes of Conor Coady, Romain Saïss and Leander Dendoncker are just a few of the many aerial threats that the Aston Villa defence are up against this weekend. Keeping the number of set-pieces conceded to a minimum would certainly benefit Gerrard’s men in this game, and will be an aspect that the analysis team would have looked and, and will be an instruction that the boss advises his side prior to kick-off.
In terms of Villa, I am looking forward (as always) to seeing Coutinho back in claret and blue and orchestrating play in the final-third, with Jacob Ramsey, on the back of his impressive form for the England U21, also involved often too.
Once again, I would enjoy seeing Emiliano Buendía and Morgan Sanson featuring more than they have been in recent weeks, with the prospect of Coutinho and Buendía collaborating in an Aston Villa an exciting one.
The striker conundrum is one I will leave to Steven Gerrard, but I would probably lean towards starting Ollie Watkins (if the boss opts for a one striker system) on the back of his goal and excellent showing in an England shirt. Lucas Digne also comes straight back into the side for me, with his abilities too superior to leave on the bench down the left.
I will predict a narrow 1-0 away victory for Aston Villa this Saturday, with that man Philippe Coutinho to bag the only goal of the game. In typical derby games fashion, I believe it will be tight and cagey, and will take that bit of brilliance to win the game – something the ‘little magician’ possesses in the masses.
Let’s get back to winning ways and make Saturday’s game a memorable one! Up the Villa!
Liam
LIAM DAVIES | UTV PODCAST
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