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English Premier League Preview: Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers [Fri Aug 26th, 2005]
Villa have had a decidedly mediocre start to the season, but the arrival this week of Milan Baros should raise spirits, and this will be a game Villa expect to win.
Villa’s small squad is already proving a problem at this early stage of the season, and fans will be hoping Baros is not the last arrival before the deadline at the end of the month.
Blackburn have had a slightly better start to the new campaign, despite getting a reputation as the new Wimbledon of the Premiership. Hughes’ team like to kick and butt the opposition, but it is a strategy that can work if your side doesn’t have expensive imports to play nice football.
A win for Rovers at Villa Park would put O’Leary under pressure, while Hughes can afford an away defeat.
Team News
Aston Villa: Baros may well start his first game but perhaps is more likely to start on the bench. Laursen, Samuel and Delaney are still out while Berger could make his premiership bow for the claret and blue.
Blackburn: Rovers are without Bellamy, Amoruso, Thompson and Dickov. Hughes may employ Kuqi as a lone striker, which worked against Fulham, as his side are desperately short of strikers with the loss of Stread and Bothroyd in preseason.
Probable Lineups
Villa: Sorenson, Hughes, Ridgewell, Mellberg, Barry, McCann, Davis, Solano, Berger, Angel, Phillips
Rovers: Friedel, Todd, Matteo, Mokoena, Neil, Gray, Reid, Tugay, Savage, Pederson, Emerton, Kuqi
Watch out for:
Aston Villa - Berger: If he does start he will be looking to impress on his competitive debut for Villa.
Blackburn - Kuqi: Quite a good piece of business from Hughes, he could prove one of the bargains of the season.
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