Aston Villa – Wolves Preview: Houllier’s men unbeaten in last 17 games against their Midland rivals

EPL ,Liverpool vs Aston Villa, Gerard Houllier (Getty Images)

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Aston Villa: Friedel; Walker, Cuellar, Baker, Delph; Downing, Petrov, Makoun, Albrighton; A Young; Bent.

• While they are flying going forward, Aston Villa have serious injury problems in defence. Gerard Houllier’s team have only kept one clean sheet in their last 19 Premier League matches – something which will give Wolves fans travelling the short distance to Villa Park plenty of hope.

• Ashley Young, subject to plenty of controversy about his Villa future at the moment, has won five penalties this season – that’s more than any other player in the Premier League.

• Remarkably, Villa have dropped 21 points from winning positions in this campaign, more than any other Premier League team.

• And only Blackburn Rovers have recovered fewer points from losing positions than Aston Villa – who have added just two points to their Premier League tally of 33 from a game in which they have fallen behind.

• They say 13 is unlucky for some and that is certainly the case for Villa – who have conceded 13 headed goals this season – another unwanted Premier League record.

• Concentration has clearly been a problem for Villa in recent weeks as they have conceded nine goals in the second half of their last nine games – with just four first half goals shipped in the same period.

• Wolves fans travelling to Villa Park on Saturday are likely to do so with low expectations. History is certainly in the home team’s favour – Villa are unbeaten in their last 17 matches in all competitions against Wolves.

• Mick McCarthy’s men have struggled on the road this season – winning just one of their last 17 Premier League away matches, a surprising 1-0 victory at Anfield in December.

• Like Saturday’s opponents, Wolves struggle defensively – with McCarthy’s side having kept just one clean sheet in their last 15 league away matches.

• England hopeful Matt Jarvis has been crucial for Wolves this season, his impressive left wing-play often leading to goals. And Wolves’ committment to getting the ball wide is shown in the stats – the Molineux men have made more crosses than any other side in the Premier League this season (686).

September 26, 2010: Wolves 1-2 Aston Villa

Emile Heskey rewarded Gerard Houllier’s decision to hand him his first Premier League start in over six months when the England striker scored a late header to hand the Frenchman his first league win as Aston Villa manager.