Thu Nov 24, 2016 8:37 am
Aston Villa Vs Cardiff City: Match Preview
By Jamie Kemble
Date and Time: Saturday 26th November (15.00)
Venue: Villa Park
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
Cardiff City travel to Villa Park to face an in-form Aston Villa as they look to build on last week’s win over Huddersfield Town.
The Bluebirds travel to the Midlands to face a rejuvenated Aston Villa side who are beginning to turn their season around. Cardiff will be desperate to make it back-to-back wins after defeating high-flyers Huddersfield Town at the Cardiff City Stadium last weekend.
Neil Warnock’s men have won three, drawn one and lost two of their last six but the bottom three is keeping pace with them and they still remain 21st in the league table, just two points above the relegation zone.
Aston Villa come into this one brimming with confidence and without a defeat in their last six games. The appointment of Steve Bruce has seemingly turned their season around and they are now just five points from the top six.
Last time out, Villa took a point home from the AMEX Stadium with a 1-1 draw against second placed Brighton. The visitors dominated large spells of the game and at the final whistle, it was Brighton who were happy to hold on for a point, despite going into the game in fine form.
Going into Saturday’s fixture, Aston Villa and Cardiff City are separated by four points. Villa currently occupy 16th spot, while Cardiff hover in 21st.
The last time the two sides met they drew a blank with a 0-0 draw at the Cardiff City Stadium in the Premier League. Cardiff keeper David Marshall was in fine form that evening, pulling off a number of good saves, including one which was nominated for Premier league save of the season. In the corresponding Premier League fixture, Aston Villa won by a comfortable 2-0 score-line.
Cardiff haven’t actually beaten Saturday’s opponents since December 1974 and to find a win at Villa Park, you have to trace all the way back to December 1954.