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Premier League preview: Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers

14 March 2013 14:44

Adel Taarabt, Julio Cesar and Armand Traore are set to return for Queens Park Rangers' relegation six-pointer versus Aston Villa.

Following Saturday's 3-1 victory over Sunderland, QPR manager Harry Redknapp declared attacking midfielder Taarabt, goalkeeper Cesar and defender Traore should be fit for the crucial trip to take on Aston Villa.

While QPR remain bottom of the English Premier League, their quest to avoid relegation has gathered pace over the past two weeks with a 2-1 away win over Southampton before coming from behind to defeat Sunderland.

A third consecutive victory on Saturday could see QPR move out of the relegation zone for only the second time this season.

For Villa, a win would see them move six points clear of the relegation zone if Wigan lose to Newcastle and Manchester United defeat Reading.

Villa came from behind to defeat Reading 2-1 last week but manager Paul Lambert will be concerned about his team's home form ahead of Saturday's clash.

Lambert's side have lost five of their past six matches at Villa Park, while, even more worryingly, QPR have picked up seven points from their past four games on the road.

The key for the hosts will be to find a way to keep Loic Remy quiet as the French striker has been crucial to QPR's improving form.

Remy scored the equaliser against Sunderland, making it two goals in as many games and three in five matches since he joined QPR from Marseille in the January transfer window.

But worryingly for Lambert, defending is hardly his team's strong point as Aston Villa have not kept a clean sheet in 18 matches in all competitions.

One thing Lambert can almost certainly bank on is that his men will find a way to score as they have only been kept goalless twice in their past 10 games with Belgian striker Christian Benteke the most likely Aston Villa player to hit the back of the net.

Benteke has scored 16 goals in all competitions this season, his first in England since arriving from Genk in Belgium.

The 190-centimetre striker is in fantastic form, especially considering Aston Villa's poor form, having scored seven goals in his past eight games for the Birmingham-based club.

Info

Aston Villa

D L W W L

3 - 2

Queens Park Rangers

L L L D L

Competition

Half-time: 1 - 1
Full-time: 3 - 2

Venue: Villa Park (Birmingham)
Attendance: 38594

Goals

	0 - 1	23' J. Jenas
G. Agbonlahor 45'+3 (assist by M. Lowton)	1 - 1
A. Weimann 59' (assist by J. Bennett)	2 - 1
	2 - 2	73' A. Townsend (assist by Ji-Sung Park)
C. Benteke 81' (assist by A. Weimann)	3 - 2

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
22	B. Guzan
4	R. Vlaar
34	M. Lowton
6	C. Clark
32	N. Baker
25	B. Bannan	42'
15	A. Westwood
18	Y. Sylla	31'
11	G. Agbonlahor	45+3'
20	C. Benteke	81'
26	A. Weimann	45+1' 59'
Coach: P. Lambert

#	Player	Bookings
33	Júlio César
5	C. Samba
19	José Bosingwa
6	C. Hill
20	Fábio
16	J. Jenas	23'
7	Ji-Sung Park
40	S. M'Bia	14'
29	A. Townsend	73'
25	B. Zamora
18	L. Rémy
Coach: H. Redknapp

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
27	J. Bennett for N. Baker 20'
10	C. N'Zogbia for Y. Sylla 60'
21	J. Bowery for A. Weimann 84'
1	S. Given
14	B. Holman
24	S. Dawkins
40	S. Carruthers

#	Player	Bookings
23	D. Hoilett for B. Zamora 46'	88'
10	A. Taarabt for Fábio 66'
12	J. Mackie for Ji-Sung Park 87'
11	S. Wright-Phillips
14	Granero
15	N. Onuoha
26	B. Murphy

Saturday 25 May

19:41	Adams calls for Arsenal defensive reinforcements
19:22	Aguero pens Man City extension
19:19	UAE Pro-League Wrap: Al Ain secure victory as Al Shaab secure safety
18:51	Pellegrini tight-lipped on future
18:40	Keane: Galaxy need confidence
18:09	Wechsel zu Atletico? Patrick Ebert will Champions League spielen
17:43	J.League Wrap: Omiya Ardija stay top, Yokohama keep pressure on
16:43	Jones aims for full pre-season
16:20	Gerrard hails ´unbelievable´ Carragher
16:16	Lavezzi wants Rooney to join PSG revolution
16:07	Beckham´s MLS plans stalled
15:25	Heynckes lauds Robben
15:24	Michu aims for improvements at Swansea
14:51	Zidane unsurprised by all-German Champions League final
14:33	Hummels hopeful Dortmund success will stop exodus
14:09	Lescott keen to move forward
13:58	Cavani concentrating on Napoli
13:34	Deeney looks to pay back support
12:35	Fernandes: We got it wrong at QPR
12:01	Lampard wants new Terry deal
11:44	Le Fondre: Reading have improved under Adkins
11:17	Yanga-Mbiwa focused on improvement
11:14	Zidane: Bale is in world´s top three players
11:09	Championship Preview: Crystal Palace v Watford
09:13	Aguero plans to honour City contract
05:44	Mourinho return excites Ba
04:34	Polish Ekstraklasa: Widzew Lodz 1 Legia Warsaw 1
04:14	Oezil keen to stay at Real
04:09	De Rossi pleads for peaceful final
03:42	Chelsea, Galatasaray vie for Turan
03:25	Ballack predicts a Bayern victory
03:13	Santos accept Neymar bids
02:27	Atletico plot Negredo swoop
01:46	La Liga Preview: Espanyol v Barcelona
00:19	Valbuena: My best season so far

Friday 24 May

22:23	Blackburn give Bowyer permanent role
21:50	Dortmund can get better, insists Klopp
21:33	Fernandes: No Caterham exit plans
21:11	Inter appoint Mazzarri, sack Stramaccioni
20:42	Benitez in Napoli link
20:17	Adams signs new Ross County deal
19:39	Heynckes: Bayern are extraordinary
19:01	Platini: European sports police needed
18:12	Taylor calls on Coloccini to stay
18:06	Verratti is going nowhere, says agent
17:56	Neymar set to leave Santos ´within 10 days´
17:51	Gill expects Rooney stay
17:44	Departing Cole thanks West Ham fans
16:59	Shechter grateful for Swansea support
16:44	Townsend charged over betting rules
16:43	Reading release six players
16:41	Monaco splash out for Moutinho, Rodriguez
16:32	Rummenigge: Bayern not complacent
16:07	Giroud seeks improvement
16:04	Palermo chief welcomes bids for Ilicic
16:03	AZ bolster defensive stocks
16:00	Lambert: Benteke needs to stay at Villa
15:52	Andreolli poised for Inter return
15:22	Bianchi: Boca players tired
15:05	Cech: Mourinho a great manager
14:52	Blatter outlines racism resolution aim
14:37	Manchester City players coy on Pellegrini
14:14	Marseille priced out of Damiao move
13:55	McAuley: West Brom could have done more
13:52	Osman extends Everton stay
13:43	Stoke reject N´Zonzi transfer request
13:19	Carragher retirement ´sad´, says Mourinho
12:58	Manolev happy to help
12:37	Europa league winners to get Champions League spot
11:22	First goal bittersweet for Azpilicueta
11:06	La Liga Preview: Real Sociedad v Real Madrid
10:54	La Liga Preview: Pressure on for Euro spots
10:46	Ligue 1 Preview: Victory only hope for Troyes
10:40	MLS preview: Second place up for grabs
10:37	Coentrao heading for Real exit
10:26	Coppa Italia Preview: Roma v Lazio
10:02	Ligue 1 Preview: Lorient v PSG
08:56	Malaga win was catalyst, says Klopp
07:10	Milan finalise Zapata switch
07:01	Montella braced for Jovetic departure
06:20	Simeone will not block Falcao exit
05:58	Van Gaal talks down Netherlands´ chances
05:49	Coupet doubts Monaco´s potential
05:47	Man City edge Chelsea in thrilling friendly
05:41	Torres wants Mourinho at Chelsea
04:57	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Atletico Mineiro snatch late draw
04:49	Galliani dismisses Berlusconi row reports
04:37	San Lorenzo renew Coloccini pursuit
04:29	Benteke sparks fears of Villa exit
04:27	Weidenfeller: We can be heroes
04:18	Injured Messi called up by Argentina
04:13	Cleverley taking inspiration from Spain
03:16	Kellermann proud of resilient Wolfsburg
03:05	Robben hails dominant Germany
02:49	Europe the benchmark for Zaccheroni´s Japan
01:39	Osieck backs Schwarzer to shine

Thursday 23 May

23:59	Van der Gun shoots Utrecht to away win
23:39	Firmino double fires Hoffenheim to win
21:41	Davies hails ´great´ debut season
21:17	Foster happy with eighth-placed finish
20:15	Wickham eyeing first team
19:44	UEFA to announce Europa League incentive
19:31	Fonte looking to hit the ground running
19:21	Hodgson keen to hand Jones defensive role
18:43	Onuoha: Keep the faith with QPR owners
18:09	Karagounis praises Fulham fans
18:07	McDermott: Byram keen on Leeds stay
18:02	Martinez´s Wigan future to be decided next week
17:47	Rodriguez: I think I will leave Porto
17:44	Erbes ´relaxed´ ahead of Newell´s clash
17:20	CSL Preview: Shandong Luneng eye top spot
17:18	Kwakman to leave Groningen
16:45	Werder Bremen complete Petersen signing
16:28	Mancini Inter return is possible, says Moratti
16:20	Baines: Everton must progress without Moyes
16:07	Nicollin: Cabella worth 100 million euros
15:56	Demel proud of West Ham´s home record
15:49	Debuchy: Premier League is difficult
15:21	Pazzini to miss start of next season
15:09	Ferdinand extends Manchester United deal
14:23	Pulis thanks fans after Stoke departure
14:07	Berlin to host 2015 UEFA Champions League final
14:04	Werder face Dutt wait
13:43	Finke appointed Cameroon boss
13:38	Wilshere keen to improve after comeback season
13:08	Vieira excited by MLS franchise
13:04	Rodgers wants quick decision on Carroll future
12:55	Kagawa wants European success
11:21	Mata hopes for Mourinho arrival
10:44	Welbeck disappointed with goals tally
10:36	UEFA Champions League Preview: Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich
10:23	Zabaleta excited by Pellegrini
09:53	Ramos: Bale is ´Real Madrid-quality´
08:59	Hart urges City to go forward
05:27	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Santa Fe earn away win
05:24	Fiorentina reject Jovetic rumours
05:16	Piszczek set for post-season surgery
04:48	Adriano signs Barca extension
04:33	International Friendly: Venezuela 2 El Salvador 1
04:22	Bundesliga chief slams Qatar World Cup scheduling
03:52	Gignac wants Barton to stay
02:35	Ramsey, Walcott hail Wenger´s achievements
02:20	Loew regrets timing of German finale

Premier League table

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Manchester United	38	+43	89
2	Manchester City	38	+32	78
3	Chelsea	38	+36	75
4	Arsenal	38	+35	73
5	Tottenham Hotspur	38	+20	72
6	Everton	38	+15	63
7	Liverpool	38	+28	61
8	West Bromwich …	38	-4	49
9	Swansea City	38	-4	46
10	West Ham United	38	-8	46
11	Norwich City	38	-17	44
12	Fulham	38	-10	43
13	Stoke City	38	-11	42
14	Southampton	38	-11	41
15	Aston Villa	38	-22	41
16	Newcastle United	38	-23	41
17	Sunderland	38	-13	39
18	Wigan Athletic	38	-26	36
19	Reading	38	-30	28
20	Queens Park Ra…	38	-30	25

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