I am actually quite glad that I chose to write this preview this morning instead of last night because I am feeling  a little more positive and I am really looking forward to todays fixture.

This has got nothing to do with United’s recent form because we all know that means nothing when it comes to Manchester United. I am not actually sure why I feel positive – I just do!

Last year United come back from two-nil down to get a point from Villa Park, and I think 90% of Villa fans would snap your hands off for a repeat of that fixture.

Teamnews

Aston Villa: Villa can be boasted by the return of captain Stiliyan Petrov who had to sit out last weekends stalemate with Swansea City through injury.

Stephen Ireland also returns to the squad following a foot injury.

Man Utd: Wayne Rooney, Hernandez, Nani and Vidic are all expected to return to the starting line up after being rested in Uniteds mid-week defeat to Crystal Palace.

Dimitar Berbatov, Rafael and Fabio will all be missing following injuries in that Palace game.

Form Guide

Aston Villa: L L D W L D

Man Utd: D W W W L D

Possible Starting XI:

Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, N’Zogbia, Herd, Delph, Agbonlahor, Bent, Heskey.

Man Utd: De Gea, Smalling, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Giggs, Young, Rooney, Hernandez.

Villa manager Alex McLeish has stated that he expects a reaction following the performance at Tottenham – Yet still no mention about how he was wrong from the start with his tactics? Not really a good example to set the players but what the hell? That is something to talk about another day.

Swansea will no doubt approach this game with a ‘nothing to lose’ attitude and after watching our performance Monday night, you couldn’t blame there fans if they felt confident in taking something from this game.

The home side have only conceded two goals at the Liberty Stadium this season, while Villa are yet to win on there travels under McLeish – the signs don’t look to good do they?

Brendan Rodger’s side are one of the more impressive sides this season on how they play – but could this be there downfall? Do they know how to win ugly? West Brom always tried to play this way under Tony Mowbray and were known as a Yo Yo club, I am sure the Swans fans will hoping there side don’t go on to follow this pattern.

Teamnews

Swansea City: Wales International Joe Allen should return to the Swans line up following impressive performances all season. The midfielder had to sit out last weekends defeat to Manchester United due to a Calf injury.

Defender Steven Caulker has returned to training following a knee injury but this game will come to early for him.

Aston Villa: Jermaine Jenas will return to the match day squad and could quite possibly get his first start for Aston Villa. The midfielder had to sit out the defeat to Tottenham as he can’t play against his parent club.

Captain Stiliyan Petrov (hamstring) and Chris Herd (leg) are both battling to be fit to feature.

Alex McLeish has said there will be changes made in the starting eleven but I wont be to surprised if its the same back four – one of the real problems at Aston Villa at the moment.

Form Guide

Swansea City: W L D W D L

Aston Villa: W L L D W L

Squads:

Swansea City: Vorm, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Orlandi, Graham, Sinclair, Dyer, Dobbie, Routledge, Monk, Lita, Moore, Bessone, Rangel, Allen, Tremmel, Agustien, Gower, Richards, Moras.

Aston Villa: Given, Guzan, Hutton, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Clark, Warnock, Beye, Herd, Delph, Bannan, Jenas, Petrov, Ireland, Albrighton, Bent, Heskey, Agbonlahor, N’Zogbia, Weimann..

Aston Villa will have to be at there best if they are to come away from White Hart Lane with anything as they take on a Tottenham side who are unbeaten in six, winning five. Villa are yet to win away from home this year, drawing four and losing one.

Brad Friedel will be facing his former club for the first time following his free transfer to the capital in the summer. The big American goalkeeper played 131 games in a Claret and Blue shirt and was a favourite amongst many fans although there was a minority that felt it was time for him to move on. No doubt he will have a big part to play in weather we can get anything from a very strong Tottenham side.

Harry Redknapp should return to the Tottenham bench following minor surgery.

Teamnews

Tottenham Hotspur: Midfielder Rafael Van Der Vaart is rated at 75% fit following his hamstring injury he picked up while on International duty with Holland.

Vedran Corluka could return following an ankle injury, but both Michael Dawson (Achilles) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) remain on the casualty list.

Aston Villa: Gabriel Agbonlahor is battling to be fit after picking up an injury while on International duty.

Villa manager Alex McLeish is also hoping that captain Stiliyan Petrov is fit following an injury he picked up against Norwich before the International break.

Jermaine Jenas can’t feature against his parent club, while Eric Lichaj remains on the sidelines with a hip injury.
 

Form Guide

Tottenham: W W D W W W

Aston Villa: D W L L D W

Squads:

Tottenham Hotspur: Gomes, Friedel, Cudicini, Bale, Kaboul, Corluka, Bassong, Gallas, King, Walker, Assou-Ekotto, Rose, Parker, Modric, Livermore, Townsend, Carroll, Lennon, Falque, Sandro, Pienaar, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Dos Santos, Adebayor, Van der Vaart.

Aston Villa: Given, Guzan, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Clark, Warnock, Beye, Herd, Delph, Bannan, Petrov, Ireland, Albrighton, Gardner, Bent, Heskey, Agbonlahor, N’Zogbia, Weimann, Delfouneso.

Remember, remember the 5th of November, as the saying goes, but lets hope this bonfire night is one to remember for the Claret and Blue army.

Despite a solid yet unspectacular start to the season Villa have only managed 1 point from a possible 9, while newcomers Norwich have enjoyed a dream start back in the Premiership. The Canaries have lost just 1 in 6, winning 3.

With our guests sitting one point and position above us, we could climb above them if we are able to overcome them but we must not right them off as they could punish us if we take them for granted.

I am personally a big fan of Norwich fan, Paul Lambert and I believe he has done a very good job for the Canaries, and will find himself at a bigger club in the future.

Teamnews

Aston Villa: Barry Bannan is available and back in the squad following suspension. He has gone from hero to zero in the eyes of many Villa fans after his alcohol fueled actions, so he will be looking to get back on the pitch and show the faithful just what he is capable of.

Jermaine Jenas is also available, and should feature. Eric Lichaj remains as Villa’s only casualty.

Norwich City: The away side have no fresh injury problems with the only headache for boss Paul Lambert being the decision to recall captain Grant Holte or not following his extra time equalizer last weekend against Blackburn.

Referee: Kevin Friend

Form Guide

Aston Villa: D D W L L D

Norwich City: W W L W D D

Squads:

Aston Villa: Given, Guzan, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Clark, Warnock, Beye, Herd, Delph, Bannan, Petrov, Ireland, Jenas, Albrighton, Gardner, Bent, Heskey, Agbonlahor, N’Zogbia, Weimann, Delfouneso.

Norwich City: Ruddy, Tierney, Barnett, Martin, Naughton, Fox, Johnson, Hoolahan, Pilkington, Bennett, Morison, Rudd, Holt, Crofts, Jackson, Wilbraham, Surman, de Laet.

Regardless of what the press say, today’s fixture is not all about Darren Bent and the first time he has returned to Sunderland following his controversial move. A move that we all have our own views on it weather your of a Claret and Blue or Red and white persuasion.

This game for Aston Villa is a lot bigger than that, lets face it we badly need some points on the board before the dreaded December fixture list. Some may say we got screwed last weekend against West Brom, but the true fact of the matter is, we was second best but, it is in the past and it is time to move on and look forward.

The Sunderland fans will be on Darren Bent’s back at every given opportunity but if our star striker wants to lead England to World Cup glory next summer, he needs to handle the pressure and there’s no better way of throwing all the abuse back in the face of the Mackams than scoring and helping Villa do something they couldn’t do last season, get three points!

Teamnews

Sunderland: Steve Bruce will most likely stick with the side that beat Bolton last weekend with Connor Wickham particularly impressing. I have always been a fan of the former Ipswich striker and I hope he lives up to the expectation that is expected of him – just not this weekend please!

Craig Gordon and Frazier Campbell are still on the casualty list at the Stadium of Light, both with knee injuries.

Aston Villa: Jermaine Jenas has finally been named in a match day squad following an injury since his loan move from Tottenham Hotspur, but I wouldn’t expect him to start.

Otherwise Alex McLeish has a full team to pick from after Chris Herd’s red card was overturned in mid-week.

Referee: Chris Foy.

Form Guide

Sunderland: L W L D L W

Aston Villa: D D D W L L

Squads:

Sunderland: Mignolet, Westwood, O’Shea, Brown, Bardsley, Richardson, Turner, Laing, Cattermole, Gardner, Vaughan, Larsson, Colback, Elmohamady, Meyler, Sessegnon, Bendtner, Wickham, Ji, McClean, Cook.

Aston Villa: Given, Guzan, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Clark, Warnock, Beye, Cuellar, Herd, Delph, Petrov, Ireland, Jenas, Albrighton, Gardner, Bent, Heskey, Agbonlahor, N’Zogbia, Weimann, Delfouneso.