please log in to view this image Saturday 3rd March, 2018 3pm Location: Villa Park Capacity : 42, 785 Distance from headquarters; 2h16 by car down the M40 2h30 by train out of Euston 10h33 and 126 miles by bike, you never know. please log in to view this image Previous Meetings Played 57 times One to remember; The only time I could find that we beat them by more than a two goal margin; 05 Sep 1967 Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa W 3-0 League Division Two One of the few we won in the top flight; 27 Oct 2014 Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa W 2-0 Premier League One to forget; 27 Apr 1985 Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers L 5-2 League Division One 14 Aug 1993 Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers L 4-1 Premier League Plus we have lost the last three meetings. Players who have played for both clubs; Crouch (42 for us, 10 goals and 37 for them, 6 goals) Routledge (44 for us, 3 goals and 2 games for them), and Jermaine Jenas (3 games for them, 38 games for us, 4 goals) Preview; Having been relegated from the Premiership for the first time last season, Villa are clearly looking for, and expecting an immediate return to the top flight. Like many before them, they are not finding the second tier is a walk in the park, but they are also not struggling in mounting a serious challenge for second spot. That said, it must be hard for them to watch their close rivals run away at the top of the league, Wolves currently being 10 points ahead of their neighbours. You can really learn a lot of what you need to know about these two sides from looking at the top scorers this season for both clubs. You have to go to Villa's third top scorer, Scott Hogan (8), to find a player who equals our top scorer, Matt Smith. Villa have scored 53 this season, to our 38 and so Saturday is sure to be a tough afternoon for our defence. Villa are hopeful that Jack Grealish and Albert Adomah could return on Saturday, both having missed the last three games through injury. Adomah is their top scorer (14), and although I'd not want to wish an injury on a player, hamstrings are very temperamental, so it could go again at any point in the warm up, which would be a shame. Grealish has had a calf complaint, which backs up the theory all of us Londoners have that everyone who lives outside of London must be a farmer ( sorry). As for us, other than the long term injury to Wheeler, there isn't a huge amount to report. Robinson returned on Saturday, but other than that we seem to have quite a healthy squad to choose from at the moment (cue numerous posts stating injuries that I have missed). It isn't exactly a dream fixture for us after last weekends result, which even the club hasn't bothered to try and be positive about, describing it on the official site as a 'Day to forget for QPR.' I can see one of two approaches on Saturday. Negatively, we could set up to limit the defeat. After last Saturday, we don't want another thumping, and would rather walk away having frustrated them for most of the game and narrowly lost, as opposed to conceding four or five again. I would rather see us go there and have a go, even it still means we lose. We have the players to cause trouble, and if well set up, I reckon we can give any other team in this division a tough game. Who knows, if we have a go, we might even get something, but you gotta be in it to win it.
Apologies for the extremely early match thread, but I travel tomorrow morning and might not be online again until Sunday, so figured better to put it up very early, as opposed to not at all.
Can't we just concede and save the legs for one we can win? Sorry but this could be a goal fest for them.
Having studied in Birmingham I ****ing hate Villa. Absolute **** of a football club. I’ve booked a non-refundable hotel in glorious Solihull for myself, the missus and the dog so we’re ****ing well going and they’ll play the bastard game. God she’s lucky to have me.
I really should go as it’s relatively close, but its a horrible experience going to Aston twinned with Aleppo, it’s cold, the Villa fans are the most ignorant I have ever encountered, and I can’t be arsed. Solihull. Chav-tastic.
Bloody cheap though compared to the wannabe London prices in the centre. Been to the Bullring and Broad Street enough times to know they’re ****e. Just desperate to win or even draw there after recent disappointments (no chance). Never encountered such a deluded and arrogant fanbase. Julio ****ing Cesar.
Last time I went was the 3-3 draw during our last plunge out of the PL. Ramsey was in charge for us I think and Sherwood for them. Made the mistake of driving and ended up parking miles from the ground, was then subject to a 70s style ‘mind your car for you Mister’ extortion from some urchin as his ‘uncles’ looked on, ****ing gate where I was meant to pick up ticket was closed, got in about 20 minutes after the start and then we threw away a win at the death. Then back through the war zone to the car. Which was unmarked. Result! Centre of Birmingham does at least have a few good restaurants and some very good pubs. Soilihull has nothing but chains, an identikit town. But if the room is cheap the trains into the city aren’t bad. Next time consider the oasis of London (nice borough) sophistication which is Leamington Spa.
Missed that one but the one we lost 3-2 when we should have been 3-0 up at half time was painful. Last season too we were camped in their half for the entire second half and couldn’t score and that was with Sean Goss in midfield and Petrasso. Great one was during freshers week at Birmingham round the corner we did them 1-0 in the League Cup.
Last time i was at Villa Park was a League Cup Tie in late 70's (?) we lost naturally, they had Brian Little and Andy Grey playing up front and were a bloody good side, it was around the time they won the European Cup........ .....and don't get me started on the League Cup Semi Final replay at Highbury.........
My best memory of Villa Park was the last game of the 1967-8 season when we got promoted to the old First Division. Don't get me started on the League Cup Semi Final replay at Highbury, though.
Would be amazed if this game is on given the forecast in Birmingham. Pitch might be fine but clubs will be terrified of being sued if someone does something crazy like fall over because in 2018 we can’t be trusted to look after ourselves.
Match on according to the Official and announcement from Villa. It’s actually not too bad round here at the moment and the worst is apparently over. Wrap up warm though. And leave plenty of travel time.
I heard someone on the radio (as part of a news broadcast), giving advice on how to walk in icy conditions. Apparently if you take smaller steps, you are less likely to fall over. Anyone who needs to be told that shouldn't be allowed out on their own anyway.
