Aston Villa vs Bournemouth preview: Villa can be relegated on Saturday
A look ahead to the Premier League fixture at Villa Park
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Your support makes all the difference.It’s a big game for…
Gabby Agbonlahor: The Aston Villa striker will be available for selection after the club announced it would take no further action over the pictures of his trip to Dubai last month. It is not yet clear whether caretaker boss Eric Black will select Agbonlahor, however, Villa have scored just four goals in their last eleven games and need all the help they can get.
The Villains look dead and buried in the Premier League and defeat this weekend would consign them to relegation if Norwich get a point or more away at Crystal Palace. Agbonlahor scored his only goal this season in his club’s last victory, over two months-ago against Norwich. The striker may be looking for a new club in the summer so this would be a good time to put himself in the shop window and show he can still be a threat in the Premier League.
Best stat…
7: Villa have lost each of their last seven league matches; only once before have they had a run as bad as this in the league, losing 11 matches in a row back in 1963.
Remember when…
In the Cherries' first ever Premier League game back in August, Rudy Gestede gave Villa a very fortunate win, one of only three this season, at Dean Court.
Player to watch…
Josh King: Bournemouth’s excellent campaign has been rocked slightly in the last couple of weeks with heavy defeats at the hands of Tottenham and Man City. Eddie Howe has been keen to stress that the season is not over despite the Cherries sitting 11 points clear of the relegation zone.
The Norwegian has had an excellent season since joining from Blackburn in the summer and has scored in Bournemouth’s last two wins. The south-coast side will be keen to return to winning ways against Villa this weekend, so don’t be surprised if King gets himself on the scoresheet again.
Past three-meetings…
Bournemouth 0 Aston Villa 1 (Gestede), Premier League, August 2015.
Aston Villa 2(Gil, Weimann) Bournemouth 1 (Wilson), FA Cup, January 2015.
Bournemouth 1 Aston Villa 2 (Daley, Platt), Division 2, March 1988.
Form guide…
Aston Villa: LLLLLL
Bournemouth: DWWWLL
Vital information…
KICK-OFF TIME: 15:00
TV: Highlights on BBC 1 22:20
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