Match Preview: Villa v Watford

by Dek Hogan 

Who are we playing?
Watford on Saturday 28th November 2015 at 3.00pm

Bag searches

Where are we playing?
Villa Park, you may know where it is, but security is being tightened so club advice is to get there early. You wouldn't want to miss any Villa Park excitement now would you?  Bags will be searched.

Can I go?
Yep, tickets still on sale but don't leave it too long if you want to bag your favourite spot. might be worth checking your season ticket holding mates are going first though. People are so disenchanted at the minute that there may be a few going begging.

Easy to get to?
Doddle. Despite the fact that Birmingham is chock-a-block with roadworks. The German Market is up and running if you fancy a weissbier or two on the way.

Can I watch it on telly?
Saturday 3 o'clocker so you'll need a stream or a pub with a dodgy dish.

Not a left back

Big game?
Huge.

New manager bounce didn't take long to wear off did it? After what was an encouraging 0-0 against Man City, the wheels came off at Everton, not that surprisingly when you look at the players Garde brought back into the team.

Westwood, Grealish and Richardson? They aren't the answer unless the question is, do want to be effectively down before you've put the Christmas decorations away.

Lightweight

Maybe the Frenchman can turn things around but time is not a luxury he has on his side and the team he put out at Goodison looked like rabbits caught in the headlights.

There was certainly scant evidence that this group of players can show any sort of fight. It was truly pathetic.

Fight is exactly what Watford showed last weekend as they were unlucky to fall to defeat against a spawny United side.

You spin me right Round baby

Fully expect Watford to play without fear and take the game to us. They love away games this lot.

That's the really sad thing really. We are playing Watford in a must win game and you wouldn't risk your beer money backing us to win.

Meanwhile if Garde isn't allowed to pick his own backroom staff then what the the actual fuck is going on. There's something rotten at the heart of Villa right now.

Typical Watford fan

Do Watford have any famous fans?

There's Elton John, who used to sing a bit (probably still does) and bizarrely, we've seen Mila Kunis linked with club.

We've got fiddle playing scruffbox Nigel Kennedy off of Radio 3.

So we win.

Pull your socks up

Who's playing for us?
God knows. It genuinely looked like Garde knew what he was doing when picked a decent line up for the Man City game. It'll be intriguing to see who get the nod this time. Surely Sanchez should get the nod. We'd like to see Libor Kozak at least given a chance to impress, if only from the bench. Jack Grealish has allegedly been banished to train with the kids. That should help him grow up a bit.



Who's playing for them?
Dyed in the wool bluenose Troy Deeney is the one to watch out for. He'll be desperate to knock one in against us.

Any useless stats?
Of course, here you go:

• Watford have beaten us 5 times while we have 7 wins. There have been 5 draws.

• Watford's last win against us was back in October 1986 (our last relegation season). Despite goals from Mark Walters and Simon Stainrod, we went down 4-2.

• Our last win over them was nervy affair back in 2007. Many fans had already left before an own goal gave us the lead as the clock began to run out. Gabby got a second at the death for a 2-0 win

• Watford won our first two encounters in 1969 and we had to wait until 1982 before we took revenge at Villa Park. One goal from Peter Withe and a brace from Tony Morley saw us win 3-0.

Prediction
Going for a 1-2 to Watford.