The Manchester United vs Aston Villa match will take place on Saturday, March 29 at 12:45 GMT. It could be quite an eventful day at Old Trafford, David Moyes is adamant that he has the full backing of the United faithful, while a listen to any radio phone-in would suggest something very different. Couple that with the light aircraft which has been hired to fly over the stadium with a banner asking for his departure, and you’d have to say Moyes is perhaps slightly delusional.
It’s not the results that have been the problem this year, not by a long way. It’s the tactical naivety and the lack of performances which have driven United fans to come to an early conclusion regarding his suitability for the most difficult job in football.
After the latest destruction against a top four side, it’s time for Aston Villa to come for a visit. Villa are very close to being mathematically safe and you’d think they will be staying up quite comfortably this year now.
Manchester United Team News
Vidic returns from suspension and will probably replace Ferdinand who has looked pretty far from the pace of every game he’s been involved in this year. Phil Jones will continue at centre back with Evans and Smalling still both missing. Van Persie is the only other absentee and one wonders whether he will actually make it back this season now. His history of recovery from injuries is not the best, and the six week projection could easily be extended.
Rooney has scored 10 league goals against Villa and will be confident of adding to that today. Cleverley is likely to be dropped for this match, strangely Moyes only seems to play him in the big games. Valencia is fit again after his bruised eye.
Aston Villa Team News
Villa have a few injuries and long term absentees going into this game. N’Zogbia, Herd, Kozak and Okor are all definitely out, with Weimann set for a late fitness test. El Ahmadi was injured in their defeat to Stoke and is struggling to get in contention for this game. It’s been another unremarkable season for Paul Lambert and his men. Although they have had a good couple of results against Man City and Arsenal, generally they have struggled this year and seem to be suffering from a lack of investment in the squad.
Regardless of their up and down season, they can still come to Old Trafford with a degree of confidence which will be more down to the inconsistency of United rather than their own form. Benteke hasn’t reached the heights this year and has been overshadowed by Agbonlahor at times this season. Both should start as Villa attempt to pile further misery onto David Moyes.
Prediction
Sides like Villa haven’t posed the problems for United this year, it’s been the teams in the top 10 against whom they’ve struggled. United will be clear favorites and even if they ring the standard five or six changes that Moyes is so keen on doing, they should still go have enough to get last a decidedly average Villa side.
Prediction: Manchester United 2 – 0 Aston Villa
TV Info: NBC Sports Network, and BT Sport 1 (UK).
