Manchester United vs. Aston Villa Preview

If results go Manchester United’s way, the Barclays Premier League title could be virtually sewn up after Aston Villa have made the visit to Old Trafford on Sunday April 15 – and the hosts are unlikely to offer any mercy to Alex McLeish’s side who’s top flight status remains precarious heading into the final few games of the campaign.

The Red Devils should at the very least maintain an eight point cushion over Manchester City prior to this fixture which sizes up as an ideal opportunity for United to breeze closer to the finishing line.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are the best part of 50 points better off than lowly Villa in the table and it is easy to see why.

United won the reverse fixture comfortably earlier in the season and a bloodless double looks nailed on unless Aston Villa can somehow produce a performance which far exceeds what they have displayed thus far in 2011/2012.

The visitors have eked out enough points to keep their heads above relegation water but survival is not yet certain with five clubs below them all fighting to beat the drop as well.

In truth, this has to rank as Villa’s most disappointing campaign since the start of the Premier League in 1992 and overall their squad is of poor quality compared to the majority of others in the top flight.

McLeish has been unable to oversee any real consistency throughout the past few months and the Scot’s threadbare resources have been woefully exposed despite a number of spirited performances occasionally turned in by his side.

Indeed, Villa are experiencing a tough time both on and off the pitch following the devastating news regarding captain Stilian Petrov’s recently discovered illness and it really is a case of trying to hang on until the final whistle before regrouping for next season.

Manchester United should see this match as easy pickings and as they have demonstrated so often in the past, any kind of vulnerability or frailty will be punished ruthlessly at the Theatre of Dreams.

United have, in the main, been solid if unspectacular and that may be the case here with professionalism and authority likely to override a complete goal blitz.

Nevertheless, the hosts should triumph by at least two clear goals and a clean sheet looks highly likely with Villa unable to offer much by way of attacking impetus.

Agbonlahor, Heskey and co have only managed a poultry 34 goals throughout the season and United can restrict that tally further in the process of taking three points at odds of around 5/6.

A one goal handicap offers slightly less value at around the 4/6 mark but appears a good thing all the same, whilst United’s pacier players should be considered for the first goal of the game with Villa’s defence notorious for being slow and rigid.

Aston Villa are likely to have enough in hand to stave off relegation come the last day of the season but their fate will not be decided by the outcome of this encounter, which will surely prove even more taxing than their recent trip to Anfield which finished 1-1 after managing to keep the Reds out for the majority of the ninety minutes.

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09/04/2012     © Frixo 2024