Fernando and Nastasic return to squad
Aston Villa vs Manchester City
Date: 5.30pm, Saturday 4th October 2014
Venue: Villa Park, Birimingham
Referee: Chris Foy Assistants: H Lennard, R West Fourth Official: C Pawson
Odds: Aston Villa 7/1, Draw 7/2, Manchester City 8/15
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Sky Sports 1
Aston Villa
Manager: Paul Lambert
Squad (from): Given, Guzan, Bacuna, Baker, Clark, Herd, Hutton, Lowton, Okore, Senderos, Vlaar, Cleverley, Cole, Delph, Grealish, N’Zogbia, Richardson, Sanchez, Westwood, Agbonlahor, Bent, Benteke, Burke, Weimann.
Injured: Kozak
Doubtful: Vlaar, Benteke
Suspended: None
Form guide: LLWWD
Manchester City
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Squad (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Nastasic, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, Lampard, Milner, Navas, Silva, Sinclair, Toure, Aguero, Dzeko.
Injured: Nasri
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Form guide: WDDLW
Matija Nastasic and Fernando have recovered from their respective injuries, bolstering manager Manuel Pellegrini's options ahead of the trip to Birmingham. Samir Nasri is the only player still sidelined.
Pellegrini is, however, mindful of last season's 3-2 defeat at Villa Park, and is keen to avoid a repeat performance.
“I remember that [last year against Aston Villa] was a game that we played very well but it was similar to what happened against Cardiff. We lost both games 3-2.
“After that we improved a lot playing away and I hope playing those games last season will be good experience, so tomorrow we can play with 100% concentration and intensity that you need to win those games.
“Aston Villa have special players and they are normally a team that puts pressure on us for 90 minutes. But we have important players too so we can react to it, try to work in attack as we always do, and concentrate more on defending because we need a clean sheet. In the last three games we conceded five goals which is too much for me.”
City's last away league game at Villa Park ended in a 3-2 defeat, with Yaya Toure and Edin Dzeko scoring for the Blues. Overall City have won 68 of the 165 games played against Villa, with 40 draws and 57 defeats.
Read the views from opposition fan Damian Dugdale here.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1 Manchester City 2