Match Preview : Villa v Cardiff City

Who are we playing?
Cardiff City

Where are we playing?
Villa Park, Saturday 3pm

Can I go?
You certainly can. Loads of tickets still on sale.

Can I watch it live on the telly?
If you are in the UK then not legally, no. Plenty of pubs will showing on their dodgy dishes though.

Neil Kinnock: not used to winning...

Do Cardiff have any famous fans?

Well, there's Neil Kinnock, who managed to lead the Labour Party to two successive General Election defeats. Neil wears his heart on his sleeve and recently got into hot water for an over-exuberant goal celebration at  Craven Cottage. We've got David Cameron. He hasn't won a General Election either, but they still let him be Prime Minister.

Who's playing for us?
Andi Weimann won't have recovered from his hamstring in time and Gabby is still out with his dodgy ankle. This should give a chance for the likes of Kozak and Helenius while Tonev will also be pushing for a recall. Fringe player Callum Robinson will have given Paul Lambert food for thought with a commanding goal-filled performance for the Under 21s, while Jordan Graham was also hugely impressive but is still building up match fitness after a lengthy lay off.

Fabian Delph, badly missed on the Boleyn mission, will be back from his sick bed.

Lack of a specialist left back will mean Lambo will have to have a think about his formation and may be tempted to stick with the back three he started at West Ham. It'll be interesting to see whether Matt Lowton can keep his place on the right after Matt Jarvis gave him a torrid time last week.

Who's playing for them?
Peter Whittingham may well have a point to prove after carving out a successful career at Cardiff since he was surplus to requirements at Villa Park. There's currently more interest in what is going on off the park with Malky Mackay at odds with owner Vincent Tan and tensions and feelings running high.

Any useless stats?
Of course, here you go:

• This will be our first ever Premier League meeting with Cardiff City and the first time we've faced them in a "top-flight" game since 1962, when we won 2-0 thanks to goal from Derek Dougan and an own goal.

• The last league meeting with The Bluebirds was a Second Division clash at Villa Park in April 1975, Villa running out 2-0 victors thanks to a brace from Brian Little

• The only subsequent meeting came in September 2009 in the League Cup, Gabby Agbonhalor scoring the only goal in a game with featured former Villa men Peter Whittingham, Riccardo Scimeca and notorious goalkeeper Peter Enckleman

• Villa's most impressive victory over Cardiff came in an FA Cup 3rd Round tie in 1929.  Goal machine Pongo Waring got on the scoresheet and two goals came from Joe Beresford.

He said, She said...
Paul Lambert: "Football is great because the wheel always turns. You always get an opportunity to try and get in and when the opportunity is there you have to go and take it.

"It's up to the individual to go and take it.

"I have confidence in Libor and Nicklas, no doubt whatsoever."

Peter Whittingham: “I don’t regret my time at Villa at all. I played around 60-odd games and had a great time.

“It was a good learning curve for me and I wouldn’t change anything for the world.”

Prediction:
Villa's injury woes not withstanding, this is a home game we simply have to win, if only for the fans' morale if nothing else. We predict a tense afternoon and a narrow Villa victory.