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Aston Villa logo
Premier League
Mar 21, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Swansea logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Gomis (87')

Preview: Aston Villa vs. Swansea City

Sports Mole previews the Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Swansea at Villa Park as Tim Sherwood's side go in search of a fourth straight victory.

Tim Sherwood's rejuvenated Aston Villa will go in search of a fourth consecutive win on Saturday when they host Swansea City in the Premier League.

Back-to-back victories over Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion were perhaps trumped last weekend as they thrashed Sunderland 4-0 on Wearside.

The result lifted Villa above their opponents into 16th in the table and at last gave their fans some light relief following what has been a dismal season on the road.

Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor braces before half time at the Stadium of Light saw the Villans score more than two in a game for the first time this season and doubled their away league goals tally for the entire campaign.

Sherwood's positive influence on the FA Cup semi-finalists is starting to show, but more will be needed from Villa's previously goal-shy strikers to ensure their survival, as the club remain only three points clear of the relegation zone.

The visit of a Swansea side that are somewhat stuck in mid-table limbo and have lost their last two games represents a decent chance of another Villa victory.

However, Garry Monk will argue that his side pushed Tottenham Hotspur all the way at White Hart Lane and were unlucky to go down to Jordan Henderson's fluke goal in their 1-0 loss to Liverpool on Monday night.

The Swans are now experiencing some of their own troubles in front of goal. Their blank against the Reds was their fifth in their last nine games and a recognised striker has only found the net once during that period.

Filling Wilfried Bony's shoes has so far proved too big a task for Bafetimbi Gomis, although the Frenchman was widely praised for his performance versus Liverpool upon returning from the health scare that he suffered at Spurs.

Improving his service would aid the former Lyon man and Monk may consider recalling either Jefferson Montero or Nathan Dyer to bring some width back to a team which has become somewhat imbalanced in recent weeks.

Federico Fernandez is expected to return to the squad after missing the Liverpool defeat for family reasons and should take Jordi Amat's place at centre-back. Fellow defender Kyle Bartley is Swansea's only injury absentee.

Sherwood would be brave to make any changes to his side, although Alan Hutton is back from suspension and could put some pressure on Leandro Bacuna's right-back berth.

Jack Grealish is also available after a ban, but Ron Vlaar, Philippe Senderos, Aly Cissokho, Kieran Richardson and Nathan Baker remain out. Scott Sinclair should start against the club where he made his name.

Villa:

Form in Premier League: LLLLWW
Form in all competitions: LLLWWW

Possible starting lineup: Guzan; Bacuna, Okore, Clark, Lowton; N'Zogbia, Delph, Cleverley, Sinclair; Agbonlahor, Benteke

Swansea:

Form in Premier League: DLWWLL
Form in all competitions:

Possible starting lineup: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Cork, Ki; Sigurdsson, Shelvey, Routledge; Gomis

Sports Mole says: 2-0


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Joe Fish
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WBA player Craig Gardner celebrates his goal with manager Alan Irvine during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at The Hawthorns on December 13, 2014
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