Game Preview: Villa vs Sheffield United
By Tom Wade
Aston Villa are set to go head to head with Sheffield United on Saturday as the two promoted sides from last year clash for the first time this season.
Villa will head into matchday 17 looking to put last weekend’s heavy 4-1 defeat at home to Leicester City firmly behind them. However, with news this week that Centre-Back Tyrone Mings will miss at least three weeks due to the hamstring injury he picked up against Leicester, Manager Dean Smith will have some big decisions to make.
With Mings out, Smith will be forced to make a decision as to who should come into the starting 11 to replace the England international. Bjorn Engels, who came on for Mings in the defeat to Leicester remains the most likely option, while many Villa fans are suggesting that Smith should look towards young defender Kortney Hause to come in and partner Ezri Konsa.
As for this week’s opposition, they come into the game off that back of a hard-fought, come from behind win against Norwich City. Goals from former Villa man Enda Stevens and George Baldock in the second half were enough for the Blades to take all three points back home from Norfolk.
Chris Wilder’s men have enjoyed a fantastic start to their first season back in the Premier League since 2007 and have to been given a lot of credit when you look at the table. The Blades are currently sat in 8th in the league and a win over the Villa could potentially see them move into the top 6.
That said, Villa have an excellent record against the South Yorkshire club and head into Saturday’s fixture having won three of their last five games at Bramell Lane (3 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat), as well as winning five of the last six Premier League meetings between the two clubs.
The last time the two teams met at Bramell Lane, it wasn’t to be a very good day for the Villans, as it was the Blades ran out 4-1 winners on their way to winning last season’s Sky Bet Championship crown.
Looking ahead to Saturday and with that bad memory to one side, Villa’s upcoming fixtures will see them face all three teams below them in the relegation zone over the festive period, and you have to feel that a win against the in-form Yorkshire men will be the perfect way to start as you mean to go on.
What they say:
Villa manager Dean Smith on the trip to Bramell Lane:
"“I think they have got threats all over the pitch. Their wing-backs both scored the goals last week against Norwich City, and they haven’t conceded many goals this season.“It will be a good entertaining game and I have got total respect for what Sheffield United have done so far.”"
Sheff Utd boss Chris Wilder on the visit of Aston Villa & Jack Grealish:
"“Jack (Grealish) is a fantastic player and the heartbeat of their team, he’s key. We have to defend well and wrap him & their front boys up. We have to make sure we play as we did at Norwich, go & cause their back four a problem with how we play when we get on the ball.”"
Injury News:
Villa:
Dean Smith confirmed what we already knew during his Friday press conference, Mings will miss the game, as will Jed Steer and Keinan Davis. However, Matthew Targett trained on Thursday and is expected to be available for selection. Club Captain James Chester is also fit but lacks match fitness.
Sheff Utd:
Blades manager Chris Wilder should have striker Lys Mousset available for selection as the French man seems to have shaken off the knock he picked up against Norwich last weekend. With Mousset available, there are no fresh injury issues for the Blades.
Prediction:
A trip to Bramell Lane will be a tough test for this Villa team without a key player such as Mings, however, if the team can stick to their game plan and silence the home crowd with the style of football we saw for periods against Manchester United and Chelsea then leaving South Yorkshire with all three points isn’t an unrealistic possibility. If Villa allow the Blades on the front foot as they did with Leicester though then it’s a whole different story. With that said, I feel the Villa will look to win by any means necessary so I’m going with a 1-0 Villa win.