Aston Villa v Everton
Football : English Premier League
Sunday 29 August 2010 - Kickoff 4pm

This game is live on TV

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Aston Villa

Aston Villa would have had a serious case of deja vu during the week as they were once again knocked out in the first stage of the Europa League by Rapid Vienna after missing a penalty in the home game. After a couple of decent results to start the new season, Kevin MacDonald was considered a favourite to get the managerial job on a permanent basis, but how a week can change things in football.

Villa were heavily thumped 6-0 at Newcastle United last weekend and followed that with another inept defensive display as they were beaten 2-3 by Rapid Vienna at Villa Park to exit Europe. Kevin MacDonald claimed he would like to be the 'invisible man' while manager of the Premier League club- I am not sure if that was due to the embarrassing nature of their last 2 defeats.

Gabriel Agbonlahor is hoping to retain his place in the line up after scoring on Thursday night. John Carew and Richard Dunne are available while Carlos Cueller and James Collins are both ready to start their first game of the season.

Possible Aston Villa Line Up: Friedal, Cueller, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton, Downing, Petrov, Ireland, Young and Carew (4-5-1)

Everton

Everton have not made the best start to their Premier League campaign but will hope their 5-1 win over Huddersfield in the Carling Cup on Wednesday will kick start their campaign. All the press surrounding this game this week has been in relation to the future of Mikel Arteta as the player looks to switch his international allegiance from his birth country Spain to his adopted country of England.

The disappointing nature of the Everton start to the season has seen them pick up 1 point from a possible 6. The Toffees should have put Wolves to the sword last weekend but allowed the Wanderers to stick around and take a point back home. The squad is one of the better ones David Moyes has been able to work with and he will be hoping his side can return to the form that had set them aside this calender year.

Joseph Yobo and Yakubu are both likely to miss out, as is captain Phil Neville.

Possible Everton Line Up: Howard, Jagielka, Distin, Heitinga, Baines, Fellaini, Arteta, Osman, Cahill, Pienaar and Saha (4-5-1)

Head to Head

Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 8 Premier League games against Everton, both at home and away, and are unbeaten in their last 5 games at Villa Park against them.

The last 3 games have been draws between the sides, 2 of those taking place here at Villa Park. In fact, Everton may feel they are owed a win after leading in both games, either throwing away a 2 goal lead or conceding in the 90th minute to drop 2 points.

Prediction

It is clear that Aston Villa are looking like a rudderless ship as the players are confused as to what is happening with the managerial situation. I am sure that things will be resolved by the end of the international break although Kevin MacDonald's future is to be discussed on Monday. The man who wanted to be 'invisible' may get his wish granted permanently with another bad performance from his side.

Everton have not started as they wanted but will know they can rectify that early in the season. The side looked better against Wolves last weekend than they did on the opening day and the win over Huddersfield can only give them confidence. They have been close to winning on their last 2 visits to this part of the Premier League world and will hope to record their first victory in 4 years this time.

After watching Villa over their last 2 games, I can only see a team that is not playing for a manager that seems to be lacking tactical ideas. They will welcome back their senior defenders for this game and hope to get a bit more solidity to their side.

Everton have been close to winning here over the last 2 seasons, and I think they may get the 3 points this time as they take advantage of the muddled Villa minds.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Aston Villa 1-3 Everton

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll have a go with the Everton WIN