Source: SKY_Sports
Aston Villa v Chelsea preview
Villa Park is primed for a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday as Aston Villa play host to Chelsea.[LNB] Both sides will believe that they remain in the Premier League title hunt, although a top-four finish remains the priority.[LNB]Villa have clambered above their weekend rivals of late and will be keen to ensure that they avoid a serious setback in their pursuit of UEFA Champions League football.[LNB]Martin O'Neill's men are certainly the form side heading into the game, having stretched their unbeaten run in the top-flight to 13 games.[LNB]They have also gone six games without tasting defeat on home soil, although they have won only two of those fixtures.[LNB]While their defensive record is not yet comparable to league leaders Manchester United, Villa have gone 349 minutes since conceding a Premier League goal and will be hoping to keep things tight against the Blues.[LNB]Chelsea will be hoping that the 'Guus Hiddink factor' can lift them out of a recent slump, with the Dutchman set to take charge of the Stamford Bridge outfit for the first time this weekend.[LNB]The Blues will head to the Midlands, though, in the knowledge that they have tended to struggle at Villa Park in recent times.[LNB]They have failed to take three points from any of their last nine visits, and the signs do not look good once again.[LNB]They have won only four of their last 12 Premier League fixtures and have failed to score in three of their last four on the road.[LNB]Sidwell returnsWith so much at stake on Saturday lunchtime, Villa will welcome the return of Steve Sidwell from suspension as they prepare to face his former club.[LNB]The combative midfielder was banned for the midweek Uefa Cup clash with CSKA Moscow after being sent off against Hamburg before Christmas.[LNB]O'Neill is also hoping to have Emile Heskey and James Milner back in contention after the duo missed out on European action with Achilles and thigh problems respectively.[LNB]Skipper Martin Laursen is definitely missing with a knee problem, while Carlos Cuellar, Wilfred Bouma and Nigel Reo-Coker are all unavailable.[LNB]Blues optionsChelsea will be hoping to have Ricardo Carvalho back in contention, but Michael Mancienne is ready to deputise should the Portuguese centre-half miss out.[LNB]Joe Cole will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury and Michael Essien is still a month away from resuming full training after suffering with a similar ailment.[LNB]Ashley Cole must serve a suspension, with Paulo Ferreira expected to step in, while Hiddink must decide whether to pair Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in tandem up front.[LNB]Possible starting XIsAston Villa: Friedel, L Young, Davies, Knight, Shorey, Milner, Petrov, Barry, A Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.[LNB]Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Mancienne, Ferreira, Ballack, Lampard, Mikel, Quaresma, Drogba, Anelka.[LNB]
