Manchester United travel to the Midlands on Saturday evening to face Aston Villa desperate to close the gap on rivals City who hold a five point advantage at the Premier League summit.

They’ll have to overcome Alex McLeish’s side who have lost only once in six games at Villa Park this season and have aspirations of breaking into the top six. It’s been a solid start for Villa under the former Birmingham boss with the club sitting nicely in eighth going into the hectic festive period. Recent results haven’t been so promising with only one win in the last five whilst the defeat at Tottenham will have disappointed the Villa faithful. The Villans were outfought at White Hart Lane 10 days ago as Spurs cruised to arguably their easiest win of the season which is something that clearly angered McLeish. However he will be pleased with his sides response against Swansea last Sunday as they held the Welsh side to a goalless draw at the Liberty Stadium which is no mean feat this season. I doubt many would have expected Villa to be occupying a place in the top half considering the discontent that gripped the club during the summer after the board decided to appoint McLeish. Many supporters who scoffed at the idea of him taking over having managed rivals Birmingham for four years are likely to be tucking into large slices of humble pie right about now. The Scot’s man management skills have worked wonders on Gabriel Agbonlahor who has rapidly turned into Villa’s most effective attacking player. Richard Dunne and James Collins have also come back in and tightened a defence that leaked all over the place last season. It’s important that they’re all focused on the task in hand when United come to town.

Sir Alex Ferguson and his side are still spoiling after they were denied victory against Newcastle last week after referee Mike Jones’ controversial penalty decision gifting the Toon an equaliser. Whilst Ferguson will blame the referee and his assistant who flagged for the spot kick it was his sides profligance in front of goal that led to them walking away from Old Trafford with just a point. Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Ashley Young all had chances to win the game following the Magpies leveller but either wasted their chance or were denied by goalkeeper Tim Krul. Dropping points at home isn’t something United have become accustomed too over the years and that draw took on greater significance once rivals City dropped points at Liverpool 24-hours later. The Red Devils could have narrowed the gap at the top of the Premier League to two points if they had beaten Newcastle. Creating goals has been a major issue for Ferguson’s side in the last month or so with the Scot dropping Rooney back in an effort to garner some imagination in the middle of midfield. It was ironic that the game in which they created chance after chance they managed to squander each and every one causing Fergie’s frustration levels to sky rocket. He’ll be demanding improvement on their trip to Villa Park – a ground where they haven’t lost in the last 15 seasons.

Aston Villa – 8th

Last Five: Drew 0-0 v Swansea (A), Lost 2-0 v Tottenham (A), Won 3-2 v Norwich (H), Drew 2-2 v Sunderland (A), Lost 2-1 v West Brom (H)

Potential Starting X11: 1. S. Given 2. A. Hutton 5. R. Dunne [C] 6. J. Collins 3. S. Warnock 8. J. Jenas 16. F. Delph 25. B. Bannan 11. G. Agbonlahor* 18. E. Heskey 9. D. Bent

Injury News: Captain Stilian Petrov remains out with hamstring injury but apart from that Villa have no fresh injuries to concern themselves with.

Key Player: Gabriel Agbonlahor

Despite failing to score against Swansea in last week’s goalless draw Agobonlahor was once again Villa’s standout player with his pace and direct running causing problems all afternoon. McLeish really has got the striker playing out of his skin this season and he’ll be key to unlocking United’s strong defence on Saturday. Normally deployed on the left Agobonlahor could make mince meat of England teammate Phil Jones who is likely to be playing at right back.

Match Fact: Despite taking part in every Premier League season Villa have beaten United only three times in 38 meetings losing 25 times. Their last win over the Red Devils was a 3-1 victory on the opening day of the 1995/96 season sparking Alan Hansen’s infamous ‘you won’t win anything with kids’ line.

Manchester United −2nd

Last Five: Drew 1-1 v Newcastle (H), Won 1-0 v Swansea (A), Won 1-0 v Sunderland (H), Won 1-0 v Everton (A), Lost 6-1 v Manchester City (H)

Potential Starting X11: 1. D. de Gea 4. P. Jones 15. N. Vidic [C] 5. R. Ferdinand 3. P. Evra 18. A. Young 24. D. Fletcher 16. M. Carrick 17. Nani 14. J. Hernandez 10. W. Rooney*

Injury News: Anderson becomes the latest player to check into the United treatment room joining Danny Wellbeck, Tom Cleverley, Michael Owen and Chris Smalling who all remain out.

Key Player: Wayne Rooney

The goals haven’t flowed for the Manchester United number 10 in recent weeks although his performances have been nothing short of majestic. In a time when creativity is at it’s lowest ebb at Old Trafford Rooney has been deployed in an unfamiliar midfield role at time to utilise his vision and range of passing. His partnership with Hernandez is continuing to grow up front and the England striker will need to be at his innovative best to break down a stern Villa defence.

Match Fact: United enjoy their trips to the Midlands having lost only three times in 18 visits to Villa Park and are unbeaten in the last 15. They’ve won nine times at Villa and will be confident of moving in to double figures on Saturday.

Last Time at Villa Park

Premier League 13 November 2010

Aston Villa 2-2 Manchester United

Young, 72 (Pen) Albrighton, 76

Macheda, 81 Vidic, 85

Attendance: 40.073

Referee: Mike Dean

PREDICTION

Villa are motoring along at a steady pace under McLeish although they’ll have to get through the festive season with their confidence intact with games against United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all on the horizon. They start their unenviable festive schedule against Ferguson’s Red Devil’s who are desperate to catch rivals City at the top of the Premier League. United dropped points at home last week against Newcastle and will be out to make up ground by taking all three points at Villa Park where they’ve won nine times in 15 visits.

Score 1-3

[ad_pod id=’writer-2′ align=’right’]