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City did the double over Villa last season and lets face it, we are even better organised now under Pearce. Villa are simply awful at the moment and unless O’Dreary has performed miracles on his honest bunch of lads this week, I just can’t see how they can damage us. They have lost 8 of our last 13 Prem games and have made their worst ever start to a Premiership campaign.

Vital Quotes:

Pearce says: ‘One of the big disappointments for me this season is I have never had all four strikers fit at the same time. It would have been nice to have them all putting pressure on each other but it has not happened.’

O’dearme said: ‘I’ve been speaking to Darius and he sounds really good. He sounds like the lad who, when the move came up, said he wanted a change. He felt he needed that change after so many years. He had good people looking after him and they felt the same way and I’m glad it has worked out for him because he is a lovely boy with a lovely talent. I agreed with him and felt a change would do him the world of good.’

Manchester City Team News:

Cole and Thatcher could return. Fowler and Bradley Wright-Phillips are also in contention. Richard Dunne (knee), Nedum Onouha (groin), Claudio Reyna (knee and ankle) and Trevor Sinclair (knee) are all out with injuries. (from): James, Weaver, Mills, Distin, Sommeil, Richards, Jordan, Thatcher, Sun, Croft, Barton, Ireland, Musampa, Hussein, Sibierski, Cole, Vassell, Miller, Fowler, Wright-Phillips.

Player to watch: Darius Vassell

Vassell in his first game against his former club. Bound to score isn’t he?!

Aston Villa Team News:

Baros is still not fit for selection thanks to an Achilles injury. Bouma still has a hamstring pull so will miss the game, Hendrie has a knee injury and Laursen is out all season. Jlloyd is expected to play on despite a shoulder injury and Hughes faces a late fitness test on his hernia problem. (from): Sorensen, Taylor, Hughes, Delaney, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Samuel, Milner, Berger, Bakke, McCann, Davis, De La Cruz, Djemba Djemba, Barry, Phillips, Angel, Moore.

Player to watch: Kevin Phillips

Give him the space and he’ll take his chance. Also watch out for 19 year old Millner, despite only being on loan, the Villa fans seem to be saying he is giving more than their permanent players!

Match Facts & Stats

Man City are 8th with 17 points.
Best case 4th (or unrealistically 3rd on goal difference if they give us a whopping). Worst case 8th.
Home Form League: 5th with 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss.
Form League: 12th
Last six: D L L W W L

Villa are 16th with 10 points.
Best case: 14th. Worst case: 17th.
Away Form League: 15th with 1 win, 1 draw, 3 losses.
Form League: 19th
Last six: L D L L W L

Last Season: Manchester City 2-0 Aston Villa
(Macken 29, Shaun Wright-Phillips 38)

Record in Premiership: Man City 7 wins, Villa 3 wins, Draws 6.
Prem record at City: Man City 5 wins, Villa 1 win, Draws 2.

Ref Watch:

Dermot Gallagher. 4 matches, 2 reds, 10 yellows.

Match Prediction:

2-0 home win. No worries!

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