Aston Villa v Manchester City: Statistics, updates and team news

A big match tonight, but all matches are going to be big from now on. You might even say that all matches are must win. Okay, tonight might be 'must draw' to leave the relegation zone, but you know what I mean.

And, thinking like that might not be very nice, but that is the way we have to think. It would be nice to think we can go out to win, but we've got to get the points we can get from now on and if we get a draw, we have to be happy.

When opportunity presents

And tonight is an opportunity. Sure, Manchester City will say publicly that they believe they've got a chance to catch Manchester United, but they don't and we know that and they know that too, but they have to say certain things.

And that help. We are desperate for the three points and they're not. They know they've blown it this season and with that opportunity, we might be able to take advantage. But, it's going to be massive for us to get something tonight and we have to be happy if we can.

And it might very well all come down to one point and if it just so happens we get that tonight, then that is all that matters. If we get more, then we should be ecstatic. If we get more, we shouldn't believe, we should just be happy that we've managed to move forward.

Stats from the BBC

  • Aston Villa have won just one of their last 10 league matches
  • Only QPR have scored fewer goals than Villa in this season's Premier League
  • Villa have not won any of the 13 league matches this season when they've conceded the opening goal (D2, L11)
  • They have lost all nine league matches this season in which they have trailed at half-time
  • Darren Bent has scored seven Premier League goals against Manchester City

Updates and team news

So, with that written, we await team news and the match. I'm not predicting, because my head says one thing and my heart says something else, but I know the optimism will rise later and I'll think something else, so it is probably best I leave that.