MISFIRING BIG GUNS
Indeed, only the Premiership's bottom two clubs - Coventry City and Bradford - have scored less frequently than Villa in 2000-01. And of The Villans' paltry total of 23, strikers account for only 39% - with midfielders Paul Merson and Ian Taylor having netted three goals apiece.
Striker Dion Dublin (pictured) is The Villans' top scorer in the league with five goals to his name, although the giant forward has been below par in terms of shooting accuracy (33%) and hasn't scored since December 16 last year.
In addition, both youngster Darius Vassell and the now-returned loanee Gilles De Bilde have failed to find the back of the net in the Premiership during their combined total of 16 appearances.
If these statistics cause the Midlanders sleepless nights, then the fact that Villa also currently hold the lowest shooting accuracy (39%) in the entire top-flight is unlikely to help matters.
All in all, it paints a bleak picture for Villa fans who have seen their team slip from fourth position in October to 13th place ahead of tonight's clash with Leeds.
Interestingly, their opponents tonight have been suffering from very similar problems this campaign. Apart from Robbie Keane - on loan from Italian giants Inter Milan - no Leeds' attacker has scored since 16th December, while out-of-form Alan Smith has now failed to find his way onto the scoresheet in a staggering 1,322 minutes of football.
The Whites have often been forced to shoot from distance since their poor run began back in November, and over the course of the season, 49% of their efforts have been from outside the box - in fact, only Bradford have relied more upon long shots, suggesting that Leeds are missing Smith and Viduka putting the ball in the net on a regular basis.
It is a sorry tale for two of the 'would be' top-five Premiership clubs, and mid-table mediocrity certainly does not suit either. Tonight's clash could well be 'make or break' for Aston Villa and Leeds, as the expensive forwards on show look to prove a point.
