Aston Villa host 3rd-place Sheffield United on Friday night. Can the claret and blues close the play-off gap?
Villa host Scott Hogan’s new club Sheffield United under the lights of Villa Park on Friday.
And though the Villa striker will not take part in this match, Blades have two other forwards worth watching. Veteran pairing Billy Sharp, 33, and David McGoldrick, 31, combine for the most goals between teammates in the EFL Championship. Sharp’s 19 goals rivals Tammy Abraham’s record while McGoldrick carries another 11 tallies. Together, the pair score relentlessly against opposing defenses in their 3-5-2 formation under manager Chris Wilder.
Blades rely on continuity for their success; 9 player have accumulated 2,000+ minutes in league play this season with two more over the 1,000 barrier. By now, clubs should be familiar with what Sheffield bring to the pitch. Villa lost to United 4-1 back in September (at Bramall Lane).
Aston Villa Predicted XI (4-3-3): Kalinic; Hutton, Elphick, Mings, Taylor; Whelan, McGinn, Hourihane; El Ghazi, Abraham, Kodjia.
Substitutes: Steer, Hause, Elmohamady, Jedinak, Carroll, Adomah, Davis.
I can’t see Dean Smith changing too much.
Jack Grealish is targeting a return date of late February from his shin injury. André Green, Henri Lansbury, and James Chester were all ruled out last weekend. As such, with one less day to prepare than normal, they will more than likely not be involved on Friday.
Jack Grealish is set to finally return later this month. Villa are targeting the Championship game at Stoke City on February 23 as a potential date for Grealish to make his comeback. [john percy] #avfc
— villareport (@villareport) February 5, 2019
The attack has been missing something in recent weeks. Perhaps including Jonathan Kodjia from the start will add another element – both in the final third, and in set pieces. In other Villa news, Tyrone Mings will not face discipline for cleating Reading forward Nelson Oliveira in the face last weekend.
Tyrone Mings will face no further action from the FA following the Nelson Oliveira incident #AVFC #ReadingFC #NCFC
— Mat Kendrick (@MatKendrick) February 4, 2019
WHEN: 8 February, 2019
WHERE: Villa Park
PREDICTION: 2-2 draw (Mings, McGinn)