Everton v Aston Villa match preview

A 5-1 Carling Cup win is just what we needed to kick start our season. Here's hoping struggling Villa are the perfect opponents to grab our first League win

Aston Villa v Everton
Villa Park
Kick-off: 16.00 BST
TV: Live Sky Sports 1 and highlights, BBC2 Match of the Day2.

Aston Villa (Possible, 4-5-1): Friedel; L Young, Clark, Dunne, Warnock; Downing, Albrighton, Petrov, Ireland, A Young; Carew.
Everton (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Howard; Baines, Distin, Jagielka, Hibbert; Arteta, Pienaar, Heitinga, Arteta, Bilyaletdinov; Cahill; Beckford.
Referee: Mike Jones. Matches 1. R: 1.Y: 0.

It was nice to see a few of the so-called fringe players get their chance against Huddersfield, especially Seamus Coleman, Magaye Guaye and Jack Rodwell.

Rodwell and Coleman (no nicknamed Seamus Ramos after his attacking display) in particular caught the eye and I would hope Moyes keeps them in the side on Sunday as the 'old guard' have failed to impress in our two League games this year. Keep Johnny Heitnga in defence too (but don't let him take penalties!!)

If our opponents aren't near rock bottom they must be pretty close to it. Without a manager Aston Vila were thumped 6-0 by Newcastle last week and were dumped out of Europe on Thursday by Rapid Vienna.

On the face we should be primed for victory and compund Villa's misery. But this is Everton we are talking about - things are never straight forward!

Last season we were second away from a crucial victory thanks to a brace from Tim Cahill before a injury time own goal gave Villa a point in a entertaining 2-2 draw.

Some external match previews:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2010/08/26/pre-match-preview-aston-villa-v-everton-premier-league-100252-27143753/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/7943310/Aston-Villa-v-Everton-match-preview.html

**Updated team news**

Phil Neville is again a doubt with a foot injury so hopefully I will get my wish and Seamus Coleman will start at right back. Yakubu is out with illness and a shin problem (why do I get the impression he has played his last game for the club?) Joseph Yobo and Victor Anichebe are also unavailable.

For Villa Gabriel Agbonlahor should be fit despite being substituted with a tight calf in Thursday's Europa League defeat by Rapid Vienna. Defenders Carlos Cuellar and James Collins are poised for their first league appearances of the season, while John Carew (who always seems to score against us!) and former Evertonian Richard Dunne are available.

Some interesting stats (pinched from the BBC!)

Head-to-head

• This is the most-played fixture in the English top flight. Villa have 71 wins to Everton's 70 from the previous 190 league meetings.

• Villa are unbeaten in their last eight league games against Everton (W3, D5).

• Everton's only league victory at Villa Park in the last 22 attempts was a 3-1 success in February 2005.


Aston Villa

• Villa have conceded 20 goals in their last 10 league matches. They had only conceded that many goals in their previous 24 matches.

• They have twice suffered a six-goal margin of defeat in their last 10 league matches: 7-1 at Chelsea and 6-0 at Newcastle. They had previously gone 24 years without losing by six goals in the top flight.

• John Carew has scored four goals in his last five league matches against Everton.

• Stewart Downing will be making the 250th start of his club career.

Everton

• Everton have not failed to win at least one of their first three league matches since 1999.

• They have not won in their last seven league visits to Birmingham, drawing the last four. Their last victory was 1-0 at Birmingham City in October 2004.

• Tim Cahill needs to score twice to register a century of league goals. He has scored three goals in Everton's last two visits to Villa Park.