Match Preview: Aston Villa v Everton

by Dek Hogan 

Who are we playing?
Everton on Saturday 2nd May 2015

Where are we playing?
Villa Park

Can I go?
Cup fever means tickets are going quick so get in quick to bag your favourite spot.

Easy to get to?
Doddle.

Can I watch it on telly?
Sure you can watch on dodgy web streams and in some pubs but you really should get down the ground if you possibly can.

Everton have perked up of late

Big game?
Huge.

The decent performance against Manchester City was somewhat nullified by the fact that we gave away three soft goals. Brad Guzan's faux pas for City's first would be unforgivable at the best of times but given the perilous situation  we are in, that sort of laxness truly is professional suicide. Shay must have a shout at a Premier League start now.

Instant reaction from many at the "hole in the wall" error for City's second was directed at Richardson. Kieran is not in the best of form at the minute but technically he wasn't even part of the wall and it was Leandro Bacuna who completely bottled it. He needs to grow a pair or simply not form part of the wall.

We could argue too that Benteke should have had a penalty and Hart should have been sent off but Big Chris was straying offside on such a regular basis that the lino's flag probably went up purely from muscle memory.

After a string of decent performances away from Villa Park, the key now is to attempt to replicate some of that form at home. We need the Holte End to be buzzing and we desperately need EVERYONE to stay behind the team even if things start to go awry. The bellends that booed Richardson DURING THE GAME v QPR were doing nobody any favours. If you can't stay behind the team during these desperate last three home games, stay in the pub where you can't do any damage.

Forget the FA Cup for now, we've got three home games in which to roar our team to safety.

If we aren't safe by the time we face Burnley, pass the valium.

Everton have perked up of late - possibily as a result of not having to play in the tedious Europa League any more and will be no pushovers.

Ginge

Do Everton have any famous fans?
Well there is Lee Latchford Evans out of Steps and the ginger one out of Girls Aloud. Not to mention Joey Barton (so we won't).

We've got fiddle playing scruffbox Nigel Kennedy.

So we win.

Who's playing for us?
Despite the great performance against Manchester City, individual errors cost us dear. Gooooozaaaan, Sanchez, Bacuna and certainly Richardson wouldn't have many grounds on which to grumble if they were displaced.

Who's playing for them?
Gareth Barry has challenged his team-mates to extend their unbeaten run until the end of the season. it will not go down well AT ALL if he plays well or even scores....

Any useless stats?
Of course, here you go:

Dennis

• Everton have beaten us 80 times while we have 79 wins. There have been 58 draws.

• We haven't beaten Everton at Villa Park (or at all) since August 2010. Luke Young got the solitary goal on that occasion.

• The 5th of November 1989 saw the most spectacular encounter between the sides. Villa ran out 6-2 winners that day.

• Our first ever meeting was in first season of the Football league in 1888. we won 2-1 with a brace from Dennis Hodgetts

Prediction
Going for a 3-2 Villa win.