Aston Villa v Chelsea preview: Eric Black in charge of Villa for Blues visit
Saturday 2 April 2016 13:06, UK
Rock bottom Aston Villa take on Chelsea in the first match since Remi Garde was dismissed, just four months after the Frenchman was installed in place of Tim Sherwood.
Eric Black has been handed the reins on a temporary basis with Villa rooted at the foot of the Premier League and 12 points adrift of safety. The caretaker manager has already had to make some big decisions with Gabby Agbonlahor dropped from the squad as they probe pictures of him on holiday.
Both clubs are now looking for a new manager, with Chelsea still to confirm whether Italy coach Antonio Conte will be the permanent successor to Jose Mourinho who was dismissed in December.
The appointment of Guus Hiddink as interim manager has brought stability and the Blues will travel to Villa Park hoping to maintain their 14-game unbeaten league run since the Dutchman took charge.
Team news
Agbonlahor will be left out of the group to face Chelsea by Black after shots emerged of him apparently smoking a shisha pipe in Dubai, which the club are investigating.
Adama Traore (foot) and Jack Grealish (ankle) could return, but Libor Kozak (ankle) and Jordan Amavi (knee) remain sidelined.
Diego Costa is suspended and Eden Hazard is once again out injured for Chelsea.
Striker Costa will miss the next two matches following his sending-off in the FA Cup loss at Everton, while Hazard has an ongoing hip and groin problem.
Willian, fellow Brazilian Oscar and Burkina Faso forward Bertrand Traore will be assessed following international duty. Alexandre Pato could make his long-awaited debut and Radamel Falcao is back in training.
Opta stats
Chelsea have won seven of the last eight Premier League meetings with Aston Villa (L1).
Aston Villa have won just two of their last 16 Premier League matches at Villa Park, scoring just 11 goals in that run.
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last six Premier League away games (W4 D2), conceding just two goals in the process.
Branislav Ivanovic has scored five Premier League goals against Aston Villa, more than versus any other opponent.
There have been four red cards in the last three meetings between these two sides at Villa Park.
The opening goal has come in the opening 15 minutes in six of the last eight Premier League matches between the Blues and the Villans.
Only two teams (Derby 2007/08 & Sunderland 2005/06, both 10) have had fewer points after 31 games of a Premier League campaign than Aston Villa have so far (16).
Cesc Fabregas has never been on the losing side when he has scored in a Premier League match (38 games).
Aston Villa have made more errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season than any other side (12).
Villa have the worst chance conversion rate in the top flight scoring with just 9.5 per cent of their attempts.
Chelsea have won 199 games away from home in the Premier League. Only Manchester United (245) and Arsenal (208) have recorded more away wins in Premier League history.
Merson's prediction
I don't see anything but a Chelsea win. I don't know what has happened at Villa, it's a bit of a joke to be honest. They had a two-week break and then sack the manager three days before the next game, very strange.
He should have gone ages ago. He should have gone after the transfer window when they didn't sign anybody, but he stayed and they haven't got any better.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-3 (Sky Bet's odds: 9/1)
Betting
Chelsea are just 8/15 with Sky Bet to secure all three points at Villa Park, with the hosts given a 5/1 chance while a draw is priced at 16/5. Diego Costa heads the first goalscorer betting at 100/30 with Rudy Gestede considered the hosts' main threat at 17/2 to break the deadlock.
