Aston Villa vs. Preston: Predicted Lineup in Final Battle of 2018

Aston Villa heads to Deepdale in its final match of 2018. Both clubs, Villa and Preston, will be without several key players amid injuries.

Preston North End, seven points from safety, will look for a positive result in its final home match of 2018. But they will have to do so without several players including former Villan Callum Robinson and Republic of Ireland forward Sean Maguire. Defender Ben Davies, too, who was withdrawn on Boxing Day with a hamstring problem. He looks set to miss out.

Robinson leads Preston in scoring with nine goals, but he has not played since the end of November. Of their available players, Alan Browne leads with eight goals and three assists from a central midfield position.

In a perfect world for Aston Villa, manager Dean Smith could rotate in the midst of four matches during a ten day period. Alas, that doesn’t look too likely with Jack Grealish, Axel Tuanzebe, Mile Jedinak, Neil Taylor, and Henri Lansbury all sidelined.

Aston Villa Predicted XI (4-3-3): Nyland; Elmohamady, Bree, Chester, Hutton; Whelan, Hourihane, McGinn; Bolasie, Abraham, Kodjia.

Substitutes: Bunn, Revan, Bjarnason, Adomah, El Ghazi, Hogan, Davis.

Dominic Revan and Keinan Davis earn bench roles once more due to injuries, while James Bree starts his third consecutive game in central defense. He played fairly well in the first two outings, all things considered.

I would expect one change on the wing with either Jonathan Kodjia or Albert Adomah entering for Anwar El Ghazi/Yannick Bolasie. Three points could catapult Villa into the top-6 playoff places.

WHEN: Saturday, 29 December, 2018

WHERE: Deepdale

PREDICTION: 2-1 Aston Villa victory (Abraham, McGinn)