Rock
bottom Aston Villa take on Chelsea in the first match since Remi Garde was
dismissed, just four months after the Frenchman was installed in place of
Tim Sherwood.
Eric Black has been handed the reins on a temporary basis with Villa rooted
at the foot of the Premier League and 12 points adrift of safety. The
caretaker manager has already had to make some big decisions with Gabby
Agbonlahor dropped from the squad as they probe pictures of him on holiday.
Both clubs are now looking for a new manager, with Chelsea still to confirm
whether Italy coach Antonio Conte will be the permanent successor to Jose
Mourinho who was dismissed in December.
The appointment of Guus Hiddink as interim manager has brought stability and
the Blues will travel to Villa Park hoping to maintain their 14-game
unbeaten league run since the Dutchman took charge.
Team news
Agbonlahor will be left out of the group to face Chelsea by Black after
shots emerged of him apparently smoking a shisha pipe in Dubai, which the
club are investigating.
Adama Traore (foot) and Jack Grealish (ankle) could return, but Libor Kozak
(ankle) and Jordan Amavi (knee) remain sidelined.
Diego Costa is suspended and Eden Hazard is once again out injured for
Chelsea.
Striker Costa will miss the next two matches following his sending-off in
the FA Cup loss at Everton, while Hazard has an ongoing hip and groin
problem.
Willian, fellow Brazilian Oscar and Burkina Faso forward Bertrand Traore
will be assessed following international duty. Alexandre Pato could make his
long-awaited debut and Radamel Falcao is back in training.
Opta stats
Chelsea have won seven of the last eight Premier League meetings with Aston
Villa (L1).
Aston Villa have won just two of their last 16 Premier League matches at
Villa Park, scoring just 11 goals in that run.
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last six Premier League away games (W4 D2),
conceding just two goals in the process.
Branislav Ivanovic has scored five Premier League goals against Aston Villa,
more than versus any other opponent.
There have been four red cards in the last three meetings between these two
sides at Villa Park.
The opening goal has come in the opening 15 minutes in six of the last eight
Premier League matches between the Blues and the Villans.
Only two teams (Derby 2007/08 & Sunderland 2005/06, both 10) have had fewer
points after 31 games of a Premier League campaign than Aston Villa have so
far (16).
Cesc Fabregas has never been on the losing side when he has scored in a
Premier League match (38 games).
Aston Villa have made more errors leading to goals in the Premier League
this season than any other side (12).
Villa have the worst chance conversion rate in the top flight scoring with
just 9.5 per cent of their attempts.
Chelsea have won 199 games away from home in the Premier League. Only
Manchester United (245) and Arsenal (208) have recorded more away wins in
Premier League history.
Merson's prediction
I don't see anything but a Chelsea win. I don't know what has happened at
Villa, it's a bit of a joke to be honest. They had a two-week break and then
sack the manager three days before the next game, very strange.
He should have gone ages ago. He should have gone after the transfer window
when they didn't sign anybody, but he stayed and they haven't got any
better.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-3 (Sky Bet's odds: 9/1)
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