Aston Villa’s impressive 3-1 victory over Brentford on Wednesday night has sent a wave of optimism through the Villa Park faithful. Unai Emery’s men are now looking to build on that momentum as they host struggling Southampton on Saturday.
The win over Brentford ended Villa’s eight-match winless run and propelled them up to eighth in the Premier League table, just four points shy of fourth-place Manchester City. The Villans will be eager to capitalize on their newfound confidence and make it back-to-back wins against the Saints.
Southampton, on the other hand, are rock bottom of the Premier League, with their only win coming against Everton in November. Russell Martin’s men are facing a daunting task to avoid relegation, and a trip to Villa Park is unlikely to provide any respite.
Premier League experts Steve Sidwell and Peter Crouch are in agreement that Aston Villa will have a comfortable afternoon against the Saints. Sidwell has predicted a 3-0 win for Villa, while Crouch believes it will be a 2-0 victory.
“Villa Park is a special place, isn’t it?” Sidwell said on the Peter Crouch podcast. “And when the crowd do get you going, it is great. They’d certainly done it the other night against Brentford.
“I can’t see anything other than Aston Villa winning this game. I know Southampton will give it a fight, but I see Villa winning this 3-0.”
Crouch replied: “I’m going to have to go next. I will go with Aston Villa 2-0.”
Aston Villa will be looking to keep only their second league clean sheet of the season, and with Southampton struggling to find the back of the net, it’s a distinct possibility.
The Villans will also be keeping a close eye on Southampton winger Tyler Dibling, who has attracted interest from Aston Villa recently. The 18-year-old has been compared to former Villa hero Jack Grealish and has been a shining light in an otherwise struggling Southampton side.
Dibling’s stats this season make for impressive reading, with the youngster averaging 3.60 progressive passes, 4.32 progressive carries, and *2.52 successful take-ons per 90 minutes.
With Villa craving a new winger in January, Dibling is certainly one to keep an eye on. But for now, the focus is on securing all three points against Southampton and continuing their climb up the Premier League table.
Aston Villa’s team selection will be crucial on Saturday, with Emery facing a number of tough decisions. The Villa boss will be hoping that his team can build on their recent performances and pick up a valuable three points against Southampton.
The stage is set for an exciting encounter at Villa Park, with Aston Villa looking to continue their momentum against a struggling Southampton side.