Aston Villa vs. Man Utd

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Villa Park Date: Wednesday, 10 February 2010 Kick-off: 1945 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio & highlights on Match of the Day

• TEAM NEWS

Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey limped out of Saturday's draw at Tottenham with a groin injury and is a doubt.

John Carew could replace him, but Stephen Warnock remains sidelined with a shin injury.

Manchester United should recall Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, who were both rested at the weekend.

New England captain Rio Ferdinand serves the penultimate game of his four-match suspension, while Nemanja Vidic has a slim chance of returning.

---

Aston Villa (from): Friedel, Guzan, Beye, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne,
L Young, A Young, Petrov, Milner, Downing, Delph, Agbonlahor, Carew, Heskey, Delfouneso, Sidwell, Davies, Clark.

Doubtful: Heskey (groin)

Injured: Harewood (foot), Reo-Coker (ankle), Warnock (shin)

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Rafael, De Laet, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Park, Nani, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson, Anderson, Giggs, Rooney, Owen, Berbatov, Diouf.

Suspended: Ferdinand (two matches)

Doubtful: Vidic (nerve problem in leg)

Injured: Hargreaves (knee), O'Shea (thigh)

• MATCH PREVIEW

The immovable object that is Villa's defence meets an irresistible force named Wayne Rooney.

The England striker is in the form of his life, with a spectacular 21 goals from 24 league appearances. His total haul stands at 23, already equalling his best tally of goals for a season.

Ryan Giggs recently bracketed his team-mate alongside current Fifa World Player of the Year Lionel Messi and former Red Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the best players on the planet. On current form, few would argue.

Villa's defence, the meanest in the league, managed to keep Rooney and co at bay the last time these sides met, ending a 26-year hoodoo at Old Trafford when they came away with a 1-0 victory.

Their next challenge is to improve their home record against Sir Alex Ferguson's side. United's last defeat at Villa Park came on the opening day of the 1995/96 season, which famously prompted Alan Hansen to declare "you win nothing with kids".

• MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Villa's 1-0 win at Old Trafford in December was their first victory over United in 25 matches (in all competitions).

• In league games only, United have lost just one of their last 28 meetings with Villa (W20, D7, L1).

• United's last Premier League defeat at Villa Park came on the opening day of the 1995/96 season.

Aston Villa

• Villa have only won one of their last six league games, and failed to score in any of the other five.

• It is four hours and 59 minutes since they scored a league goal at Villa Park - John Carew's 61st-minute winner against Stoke on 19 December.

• Villa have kept four consecutive clean sheets, and eight in their last 10 Premier League matches.

Man Utd

• Sir Alex Ferguson's side have taken 19 points from their last seven games.

• United have benefited from nine own goals this season, more than any other top-flight side.

• They have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight Premier League away matches.

• LEADING GOALSCORERS

Aston Villa

Agbonlahor: 12 goals (10 league); Milner: 8 goals (4 league)

Man Utd

Rooney: 23 goals (21 league); Berbatov: 8 goals (8 league)

• MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Peter Walton

Assistant referees: Peter Kirkup & David Coote

Fourth official: Stuart Attwell

• LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Aston Villa (D0-0 v Tottenham, a): Friedel; Cuellar, Collins, Dunne,
L Young, A Young, Milner, Petrov, Downing (Sidwell 88), Heskey (Carew 21), Agbonlahor. Subs not used: Guzan, Delfouneso, Davies, Delph, Beye.

Man Utd (W5-0 v Portsmouth, h): Van der Sar; Neville, Brown, J Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher (Gibson 66), Nani, Berbatov (Owen 66), Rooney (Diouf 66). Subs not used: Kuszczak, Park, Fabio, De Laet.

• MOST RECENT MEETING

Man Utd 0-1 Aston Villa (12 December 2009)

Aston Villa scorer: Agbonlahor 21

From BBC