[themaclad]

At the beginning of October 2016 North End beat Villa 2-0 in the reverse fixture as bad as the defeat was for Villa that day they will look at that result and in time it was probably the best thing to happen to them in a long time. Following the hammering and it was the Villa board decided that it was time to put an end to Di Matteo's tenure as Villa boss, in his place came Steve Bruce and this has brought some stability to the club results have improved and they still possibly have a chance of the play offs even though they are four points and places below North End.
They have lost a couple of players to the African Cup of exceedingly Dull and crap Football tournament, but still have a strong squad to pick from which could be further improved with the probability of signing Lansbury for £3 million from the hapless Nottingham Forest, they are also after Jordan who scores when he wants Rhodes although Middlesbrough want considerably more than Villa are offering, also rumoured to be after Barnsley skipper Conor Hourihane.
They have ex North End loannee Sam Johnstone between the sticks for them. Last time out they lost 1-0 at Wolves in a performance that Bruce was less than impressed with.
Villa have accumulated most of their points at Villa Park but away from home they have struggled with only one win.
North End will be without the suspended duo of Pearson and Cunningham which will probably mean a place for Tommy Spurr at left back although possibility Grayson may go 352 and give Boyle a debut otherwise very close to the side that saw off Brighton last week.
Beckford is back from suspension and he really does owe us big time, suspect if he comes on will be sent off after 10 minutes.
Have not been to Villa Park since 1984 and have never seen North End there, the Whites have sold all 2700 tickets for a trip to a ground which has not been on the fixture list for years although did coming second in a league cup tie in 2005? losing 5-0.