Premier League Preview: Aston Villa Vs Blackburn

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Premier League match time dawns at Villa Park, as Aston Villa get ready to host Blackburn on Saturday, February 26, in match week 28.

This is the second of a two-leg encounter the first hosted by Blackburn on November 21, 2010, was won 2- by the hosts. Pedersen put Blackburn ahead on the break and followed it up with a second aim 6 minutes past the hour. Villa were in reality the greater team on the day, but for the two Blackburn strikes. Villa had early scoring opportunities by means of Young and Downing, but Robinson among the posts for Blackburn rose to the challenge. Barry Bannan in particular had a brilliant game and revealed his tremendous prospective with his passing range, time spent on the ball and ability to preserve a calm head.

If Villa could be faulted, it would be in their patchy defending against set pieces. Both of Blackburn's objectives resulted from set pieces the initially resulting from a free-kick gifted away to Blackburn when Warnock brought down El Hadji Diouf. As things transpired, the consequent zero cost-kick taken by Pedersen, missed Ryan for whom it was meant and beat the advancing Friedel and lodged itself into the leading corner of the net. The second goal was scored off a Diouf corner Pedersen was set up by Nelsen who latched on to the rebound following Chimbonda's shot was blocked.

The win was a ideal welcome for the new owners of the club, Venkatesh and Balaji Rao, who were in attendance.

Head to head, in the last 20 league encounters among the sides, Villa have established a 10-7 lead over Blackburn, with the remaining 3 ending in draws.

In their final 10 games, Villa have registered 2 wins, and four every of draws and losses. Of their final 10, Blackburn have won three, lost five and drawn 2. Of 13 household games this season, Villa have won and drawn 5 each, though losing the remaining 3. In 13 games on the road, Blackburn have ended on the losing side on 9 occasions, even though winning three and drawing the remaining one.

In match week 27, Villa drew 1-1 away at Blackpool, when  Blackburn were involved in a goalless stalemate with Newcastle, at dwelling.

On present form, this promises to be a tough-fought game, with Villa enjoying an edge on the back of household advantage.

Villa had the following men in their starting eleven against Blackpool: Friedel, Walker, Dunne, Cuellar, Clark, Agbonlahor, Makoun, Reo-Coker, Downing, Young and Bent. Collins, Heskey and Bradley had been employed as substitutes.

Blackburn's beginning eleven against Newcastle comprised the following men: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson, Hoilett, Nzonzi, Jones, Dunn, Kalinic and Santa Cruz. Roberts, Pedersen and Emerton featured as substitutes.