The win against the Foxes at Villa Park last month was a rare one.
Winless in five league matches and scoring only once in that time, the Villans will be hoping to kick-start 2015 when they head to Leicester this afternoon, where the hosts will be hoping for a second league win of the season.
The Foxes have kept the fewest clean sheets in the Premier League and have conceded two goals in six of their last eight league games but, with Lambert’s new style of possession football starving the Belgian beast, the boys in claret and blue have struggled to score, netting just four times away from home all season.
The pressure is certainly on Christian Benteke, who has cut a frustrated figure in recent weeks. He may be pitting his wits against veteran Mark Schwarzer, who is set to make his debut for Leicester City this afternoon.
Recent form:
Aston Villa: D L D D W
Leicester City: L L W D W
Team news:
Vlaar is expected to miss at least a month, possibly six weeks, because of his latest knee injury.
Baker could return from injury.
Senderos remains side-lined with a thigh injury. He is expected to return towards the end of the month, possibly in time for the Villans’ next F.A. Cup fixture.
Delph is suspended following his red card.
Kozak remains a long-term absentee, although he may return to action next month.
Possible line-up:
Guzan
Hutton Okore Clark Cissokho
Westwood Sanchez Cleverley
Weimann Agbonlahor
Benteke
The opposition:
Having previously gone an unlucky thirteen games without a win, Nigel Pearson’s men have now won two of their last three games in all competitions and will be looking to build on this improved form at home this afternoon. The Foxes will be without their record signing, Croatia striker Andrej Kramaric, but Schwarzer is expected to make his debut in goal.
Sitting rock bottom of the Premier League table, four points below West Bromwich Albion in seventeenth, Pearson will be aware that a victory today could prove vital to his hopes of keeping his side in the Premier League. It could also drag Lambert’s Lions back into the danger zone.
However, the Leicester manager will be without a number of key players:
Due to the African Cup of Nations, where he will represent Algeria, Mahrez is unavailable.
Pearson will also be without Cambiasso (hip), Upson (foot), Schmeichel (foot) and Schlupp (knee).
Drinkwater (groin), Hammond (calf) and King (hip) are all doubtful.
Match information:
Referee: Michael Oliver
Venue: The King Power Stadium
Kick-off: 3p.m.
Tickets: The away allocation sold out some time ago
Last meeting: 7th December 2014: Aston Villa 2 – Leicester City 1
Predictions:
2-1 – Mark Lawrenson
2-0 – Paul Merson
1-1 – AnneMc
tough one to predict,,, leicester are going to have to try and attack, as they are at home and need the points
may lead to us having a bit more space to counter into and they may not even settle for a point
leaving them vunerable to a late goal
and gabby and winegum may be up for it as replacements are being looked at
maby we will sneak this one