These two sides started this calendar year with a meeting on New Year’s Day, which went Aston Villa’s way but things may be different this time when they clash again as 2014 concludes.
Paul Lambert will have to engineer a way to defeat Sunderland without his joint-top goalscorer when Villa host the Black Cats at Villa Park on Sunday.
He comes into this game without Gabriel Agbonlahor, who is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Swansea City. Agbonlahor’s absence will be a big blow for the Villans, who may have the seventh best defence in the league but are in the bottom-half of the table because they have scored the fewest goals in the league.
Agbonlahor’s three goals this season makes him Villa’s joint-top goalscorer with Andreas Weimann. They still have the genius of Christian Benteke, who is looking increasingly good but their task will be harder without Agbonlahor.
Despite those problems in front of goal, Lambert is relaxed about his side’s prospects in general. The Villans boss reiterated the importance of avoiding relegation first for every team outside of the ‘Big Six’. Since Aston Villa have already amassed 20 points before the second-half of the season, Lambert expects his side to be safe come May.
The Villans will welcome another side struggling for goals. Sunderland have the third worst attack in the league and they have scored just once in their last three away games. Gus Poyet will at least take heart from the fact that his side has kept three consecutive clean sheets in their last three away games.
Aston Villa team news
- Kieran Richardson will serve the final game of a three-match ban so he will sit this one out alongside Agbonlahor.
- Ashley Westwood (knee), Philippe Senderos (thigh), Nathan Baker (knee), Libor Kozak (leg) and Joe Cole (hamstring) all remain out for the hosts.
Sunderland team news
- Connor Wickham will return to Sunderland’s squad after missing the defeat to Hull through suspension.
- Left-backs Anthony Reveillere (calf) and Patrick van Aanholt (dislocated shoulder) remain on the sidelines.
Aston Villa vs Sunderland Prediction
Lambert was content with the way his side played in a 3-5-2 formation against Manchester United and at Swansea City so the Villa boss may keep the system, with Weimann likely to come into the side to partner Benteke in place of the suspended Agbonlahor.
Poyet should stick to his 4-1-4-1 formation for this game but the Black Cats boss may recall Wes Brown to partner John O’Shea at the heart of defence, while Jack Rodwell may start in central midfield in place of Jordi Gomez after a disappointing outing against Hull City.
Both sides are in the bottom-half of the table but they have fairly decent defences so this game promises either a low-scoring draw or a 1-0 win for whichever side plays well on the day.
As for the pattern of the game, Villa should attempt to play while Sunderland may be happy to nullify the hosts’ offensive threat by defending their half in numbers then breaking at pace.
