Battling for a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League group stages, Aston Villa host Hibernian at Villa Park. Here’s all you need to know heading into the second-leg tie on Thursday night…
Words by: Liam Davies
THE BUILD UP
Aston Villa are one game away from competing in a European competition for the first time since 2010, as they face a manager-less Hibernian side at home this Thursday. The Villans ran riot in the first-leg at Easter Road, putting five past a side manged by former Bristol City and Sunderland head coach Lee Johnson; the 42-year-old has since been sacked following a poor fun of form to begin the campaign.
Ollie Watkins bagged a hat-trick in Edinburgh last Wednesday, with Leon Bailey and Douglas Luiz also finding their names on the score-sheet that evening. Unai Emery is expected to rotate his team due to the large advantage they take with them into the upcoming tie and with consideration to the trip to Anfield this Sunday to face JΓΌrgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
Sandwiched in-between these two qualifiers was a trip to Turf Moor to battle Vincent Kompany’s Burnley in the Premier League. The away side were dominant on the day and left Lancashire as 3-1 winners. A brace from full-back turned winger Matty Cash and a second-half strike from Moussa Diaby helped Villa to victory, despite the Clarets best efforts in the opening exchanges of the second 45 which saw Lyle Foster score his first Premier League goal.
Unai Emery will hope his side can continue their winning form and put on a show for those inside Villa Park on Thursday. On the contrary, Hibernian find themselves in terrible form and are yet to find a win or claim a point in the league this season.
The Hibees lost to St. Mirren on the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership, before Motherwell piled on the misery the following weekend. A narrow victory over Championship side Raith Rovers in the cup was next, but the heavy defeat at the hands of Aston Villa and yet another league loss, this time to Livingston, would follow. This sequence of results chronologically spelled the end of Lee Johnson’s time in Edinburgh and the head coach role is vacant.
Can Hibernian pull off the impossible and claw back from five goals down or will Aston Villa comfortably sail through to the group stages?
TEAM NEWS
ASTON VILLA
Aston Villa are expected to be without number one goalkeeper Emi MartΓnez for the upcoming contest at Villa Park, but the Argentine shot-stopper could be available for this weekend’s game on Merseyside. The World Cup winner missed the trip to Turf Moor after feeling pain in his calf during the 5-0 win at Hibernian last Wednesday, where he was subsequently replaced at half-time by Robin Olsen.
Discussing his ‘keeper’s condition following Sunday’s triumph, Unai Emery said: “I don’t know exactly for Thursday, I don’t know exactly for Sunday. It’s very important to give other players chances and opportunities today, like with Robin Olsen.”
Midfielder Leander Dendoncker could make his playing return in the next week or two after returning to training on Monday. The Belgian international missed the entirety of the team’s pre-season campaign through both injury and personal reasons with his fitness levels suffering as a result, but could make a match-day squad prior to September’s international break.
Γlex Moreno and Jacob Ramsey are nearing returns but are not yet ready, whilst Philippe Coutinho – who has been linked with a move away from Villa Park – Tim Iroegbunam, Tyrone Mings and Emi BuendΓa are also all ruled out due to their respective injuries.
NicolΓ² Zaniolo, who made his Aston Villa debut off the bench on Sunday, remains cup-tied and will be unavailable tomorrow. If Villa were to advance through, the Italian midfielder would be eligible to play in the group stages, however.
HIBERNIAN
The Hibees will be without midfielder Dylan Levitt tomorrow as he is currently out with an ankle injury. The 22-year-old suffered ligament damage during his side’s second-leg draw away at FC Luzern in the previous qualifying rounds of the Conference League, and will therefore be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Former Villa youngster Jake Doyle-Hayes is expected to start the fixture, alongside the likes of striker Dylan Vente and midfielder Josh Campbell, whilst goalkeeper David Marshall’s availability is being considered after the veteran shot-stopper was withdrawn at half-time through injury.
Speaking on the goalkeeper situation, David Gray said: βMarsh took a sore one against Livingston and had to come off, but heβs feeling better with it. Weβre not exactly sure, yet, on him and we will give him as long as he can.
βHeβs an experienced player that knows his body. We will give him the decision until the last minute and if heβs not available weβve got Max who can step in.β
Additionally, Hibernian confirmed that Harry McKirdy (heart), Chris Cadden (Achilles) and Jojo Wollacott (thigh) all remain ‘long-term absentees’ and will miss the upcoming fixture as a result.
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A BIT ON HIBERNIAN
As mentioned, Hibs have suffered a poor start to the 2023/24 term. Having achieved a respectable fifth place finish last time out, the Edinburgh-based side find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table as it stands, with three defeats from three, and are the only side in the division yet to pick up a point.
Lee Johnson was at the helm for the previous campaign, having been appointed manager in May 2022, taking over from former Aston Villa midfielder Shaun Maloney who now finds himself in charge of Wigan Athletic in the Championship.
Former Hibs defender David Gray, who temporarily took over when Maloney departed, is the current caretaker boss and the 35-year-old will lead his side out tomorrow at Villa Park. Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon is the current favourite to return to Hibernian and take over from Johnson, having previously managed at Easter Road between 2016-2019.
David Gray has spoken about the difficulty of the task ahead of him and what he would like from his team tomorrow night. Speaking to HibsTV before the big game in Birmingham, Gray said: “It’s very difficult, but I think the most important thing is that the players realise is that they’ve earned the right to be here.
“I know the first-leg’s result and performance didn’t go the way we wanted to go, so we have an opportunity to give a better account of ourselves and enjoy the occasion.”
The Hibees have trained at Villa Park ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Villa and David Gray has acknowledged that whilst that may have it’s benefits, all that matters is what happens on the night.
He said: “I think it helps [training at the stadium]. Yes it’s an opportunity to come and see the stadium before you play in it, but it’s all about turning up on the day. It’s good to come and have a look around and get used to the surroundings, but it’s about how you prepare and get yourself ready for kick-off tomorrow night at eight o’clock.”
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MY PREDICTED LINE-UP
Letβs take a look at my predicted line-up for this upcoming fixture at Villa Parkβ¦
Do you agree? Who makes your side? Share yours now and letβs discuss?
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