Where do I begin with this? First, I'm not going to waffle on about the obvious; we all know if we lose Portsmouth will go ahead of us and our chances of European football next season will reduce further.

All negative thoughts now gone, let's look at why we can win. Portsmouth have only beaten us once in the Premier League at home and that was in 2003, we are scoring this season and you can bet your last fiver on the fact that Martin O'Neill will have the lads up for this after the dismal performance against Middlesbrough.

It's important to look at Wednesday night, because Middlesbrough didn't come to Villa Park and play scintillating football or completely boss the game. We drew and played poorly because we were simply not at the races - we were poor and I can't see Martin O'Neill allowing that again.

We've also only lost twice away from home this season and owe Portsmouth after the 3-1 defeat at Villa Park in December. Martin O'Neill will remind his players of this match.

As a team, we've also been quite consistent this season, as in when we have lost, we have bounced back quite quickly which is quite refreshing and while I'm not putting money on this match, I expect us to again.

I'm not saying Martin O'Neill was a little bit relaxed on Wednesday night but absolutely everyone thought we'd beat Middlesbrough and I think the players thought it was going to be easy too. So, I expect us to put in a performance worthy of the praise this team has had this season.

I've not seen any team information yet but I've got a feeling Mellberg will start at right back, with Gardner getting a rest on the bench. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Petrov back, but that's pure speculation based on him having not such a bad game, despite the defeat, against Portsmouth in December.

So, a game where every Aston Villa player gives 110% at all times and three points. If we don't win it's not the end of the season and I'm an Aston Villa fan, so did you expect any other prediction?

Comments (18)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

dan the villa fan said:

I expect the boys will give us a much better performance than wednesday and although pompey are a gud side i can see us scraping a win here. Yeah i think olly will start RB and i can see petrov being on the bench. Think we will win 2-1 Carew and young with the goals for villa and defoe (or knowing our luck bloody baros!)for pompey. Guna be a tight game but the we can do it! UTV!

March 14, 2008

olof the other reindeer said:

The result on Wednesday must've given the Chuckle Brothers who were on here all week predicting a 4-0 home win something to think about. I agree that we've not really played badly in consecutive games this season but, think MON and the players need more than team spirit and long balls to secure 6th place for us. The race for 5th is over, the race for 6th is now in place. Beware the Ides of March

March 14, 2008

the_flabster said:

Honestly I think they will beat us. Im a negative Villa fan and havent had much to be negative about all season but I can just feel a beating coming our way. Our dip in form, I feel has finally come and its at the worst possible time as if we mess it up in these next few games there is no time to recover. Id be more than happy with a point if im honest but I dont see it. I think 2-0 to pompey Hope the lads prove me wrong

March 14, 2008

Myself said:

A little off-topic, but now that the Champs League has been drawn, will we definately play United away on a Saturday?

March 14, 2008

sam_villa 1 said:

as much as i want villa to win and as much as we need to win i really cant see it happening. i think baros will play bloody brilliant, the total opposite of the baros we all know and hate, but after this match he will return to his normal sh*t, lazy, cheating self. and i bet after the match o'neil will be sitting there scrathing his chin wishing he could turn back time and buy defoe. i am just keeping my fingers crossed that i am wrong,VERY, VERY wrong.

March 14, 2008

andy5759 said:

Chin up lads, it's only Pompey! I know we said much the same before the Boro game, but we've got to believe in our team. It's Friday - I must be demob-happy!

March 14, 2008

Arrlui said:

2-2 Defoe, Baros - Laursen, Mellberg. Scrappy affair. Carson to record another blooper. James to get beaten by corners in the air.

March 14, 2008

Arrlui said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/h...292892.stm Just to clarify the Euro-confusion.

March 14, 2008

PaulE said:

I'd have us down for a win were it not for the fact that Pompey beat us quite convincingly at Villa Park. That said, they're not so strong at home and we're usually quite strong away. I think it will be a score draw, but we really could do with 3 points.

March 14, 2008

Satch! said:

I expect a win and nothing less, the performance at middlesbourgh and fulham was not good enough and only makes it harder to grab that european spot.

March 14, 2008

Robbie said:

I don't think it's the end of the world if we lose to Pompey, not even if we finish behind them, because i think they'll win the FA cup, and so we can rule them out of the premier league race for the Uefa cup spot, and so 6th and 5th are the same deal.

March 15, 2008

Villa_Rules said:

Must Must win simple as that

March 15, 2008

nan was a fan said:

I think we'll get beat and everybody will start wobbling on about the missed opportunities of the tranfer window again.

March 15, 2008

mickey86 said:

i think its inevitable that milan baros will score today!!

March 15, 2008

Arrlui said:

Salifou was magic!

March 15, 2008

Jimmy Villain said:

the wheels have fallen off the car, another dismal display

March 15, 2008

BIG RON said:

After that defeat it's bye bye Europe. 2 Bob cup here we come. We need more quality in the midfield and need to get real about a 20 a season goal machine up front. Otherwise its a 6th-10th placing for the next few seasons with this squad. Get out the cheque book Randy

March 15, 2008

Az said:

Well if you didn't think we had screwed up our chances at Middlesbrough, then now there is no denying. Losing to Portsmouth, what a joke. I'm not gonna blame the lack of activity in the transfer window, but clearly it would have benefited us.

March 15, 2008

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

Add Comment