Match Preview
Aston Villa vrs Fulham
Premiership Match Day 12 23/24 at Villa Park
Sunday 12th November 2023 KO: 14:00
Referee:
Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
|
Fulham have been far from ruthless in attack, recording a joint-league high of five blanks this season after losing 1-0 at home to Manchester United last weekend.
That defeat leaves Fulham down in 15th, but they are still a healthy six points clear of the drop zone currently.
Marco Silva's side are not one of the obvious candidates to go down, but only Burnley have scored fewer goals as Fulham are still yet to reach double figures, having not sufficiently replaced Aleksandar Mitrovic's goals.
Joao Palhinha and Bobby Decordova-Reid are the Cottagers' top scorers with two goals each, and that is a big reason why they have only recorded three wins in 11 games so far this - against Everton, Luton Town and Sheffield United.
Holding Brighton & Hove Albion to a draw at the Amex in their last away outing was a fine result though, and may give them some belief for this one, especially as they were also extremely close to taking a point against Man United.
Aston Villa can match a 40-year club record if they win on Sunday.
Unai Emery's side have the opportunity to win a 13th consecutive home league game here, something they have not achieved since 1983.
A win will be high on Emery's agenda, especially after his Villa side slipped up at Nottingham Forest last week and missed the chance to move into the top four.
That somewhat surprising defeat at the City Ground ended a six-game unbeaten run in the league, but Liverpool and Arsenal remain in reach, just two points ahead of Villa heading into the weekend.
Villa will need a favour from one or both of Brentford or Burnley in beating those two sides though if they want to go into the international break in the top four.
That is of course, if the hosts can get the job done themselves here, and their form at Villa Park this season suggests that is likely.
Everton are the only side to have come here and won since mid-February in all competitions, but that was in an EFL Cup tie, as Villa have been perfect so far in the Premier League.
Five wins from five with 20 goals scored is the best record in the division, and on the continent Emery's side have been faultless too, as Thursday's 2-1 win over AZ Alkmaar made it three from three this season in the Europa Conference League at home.
Goals have been important though as Villa have had a hard time stopping them going in at the other end, keeping just two clean sheets in their last 13 games - against Chelsea and Zrinjski Mostar.
|
-
Fulham's only league victory in their past 19 visits to Villa Park came in April 2014 (D7, L11). They have lost on all four subsequent trips.
-
Aston Villa are on a run of four straight home wins against Fulham: two in the Premier League and two in the Championship.
-
Fulham have only won five of their 85 Premier League away fixtures against sides starting the day in the top six (D22, L58).
-
All three of their league victories this season were against teams who start the weekend below them in the table.
-
However, the Cottagers are yet to suffer consecutive league defeats in 2023-24.
-
They only have nine league goals this season and are on a run of seven successive games without scoring in the first half.
-
Raul Jimenez has gone 33 Premier League appearances without a goal since scoring in Wolves' 4-0 home win against Watford in March 2022.
-
Timothy Castagne is one short of making 100 Premier League appearances.
-
Villa are vying to win a 13th top-flight home game in a row for the first time in 40 years.
-
Unai Emery's side can equal the club record of 21 Premier League victories in a calendar year, set in 1998. Only Manchester City have won more often in 2023.
-
They could also start a season with six straight home league wins for the first time since 1959. They last managed this in the top flight in 1932.
-
Aston Villa have scored three goals or more in each of their five Premier League home matches in 2023-24. The only side to do so in six successive home fixtures from the beginning of a season is Manchester City last year.
-
The Villans are unbeaten in the past 19 Premier League games in which they took the lead, including seven wins out of seven this season .
-
A sixth league win in a row against London opposition would be an unprecedented feat for Aston Villa.
-
Douglas Luiz has provided a goal or assist in each of Villa's seven home league matches since the 1-0 win against Fulham in April. It's the longest run ever by an Aston Villa player in the Premier League.
`
`
Source Andrew Delaney at SportsMole