Aston Villa failed to start in the League Cup, where in the first stage they failed to cope with Chelsea. It is worth noting that the Birminghamians held on with dignity and lost only in the 11-meter series. In the English Championship the “lions” chalked up five wins and a draw after 14 rounds, which brought 16 points and 13th place in the standings. After two consecutive victories over Brighton (2:0) and Crystal Palace (2:1), the hosts lost to Manchester City (1:2). Bailey, Traore, Ings, Targett and Trezeguet, who has a knee injury, will not be able to play today.
Today’s guests had a bad start in the League Cup. The team was eliminated in the first stage, losing to the more than modest Watford (0:1). After the 14th place last season, the Eagles managed to strengthen the squad and began to storm a place in the European competition zone. In the summer the team was headed by Patrick Vieira, with whom the Eagles started very confidently and after 14 rounds chalked up three wins and seven peaceful outcomes. Such results correspond to 16 points and 11th position in the standings. After a series of successful matches that ended with a 2:0 win at Wolverhampton and a 3:3 draw with Burnley, the Glaziers suffered two fiascoes with Aston Villa (1:2) and Leeds (0:1). The indicators of the capital’s in the attack line, which differed only 19 times, look modest. Today Andersen, MacArthur, Ferguson and Ward, who have too many yellow cards, will not be able to take part in the duel.