Villa and Southampton are treated to an early kick off on Saturday after the Villa players have a nice two and a half hour journey down the M40. The end of this season for Southampton has tailed off and turned out to be a strange one. With at least 5 clubs competing for a Europa League space, it seems the form of everyone possible to qualify has dipped, potentially in fear of an early return to pre-season or the dreaded journey to Turkey halfway through February and Southampton are no exception to that.
However with that saying, from a Villa perspective – Southampton are always someone we fear. They are somewhat solid in defence, especially this season with Jose Fonte having the season of his life in a Southampton shirt now he’s partnered with quality in defence after Clyne’s brilliant development over the past few seasons and also the addition of Ryan Bertrand and Toby Alderweireld.
Going forward has been a bit stagnant for Southampton in recent games with Pelle’s season taking off like a rocket then harshly plummeting to the ground, but never the less – still a threat to an unreliable defence that Aston Villa have seemed to have for the past 3 years.
With very little injury problems for Villa it would be hard for me to see past a very difficult game for Southampton tomorrow whatever the result. Benteke in the form of his life and an unknown and tricky Jack Grealish given the license to roam around the pitch could course many problems for the highly rated Southampton midfield of Wanyama and Schneiderlin.
I think form is on Villa side, we could nick it and see ourselves safe for another season in the Premier League – but none the less it wouldn’t be an easy game at all for Villa who are up against a superb side, a side that as a lifelong Villa fan I am extremely jealous of.
I am going to go for a 2-1 Villa, I fancy a Jack Grealish goal too.
