LONDON (SE) - Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan insists his relegation-threatened side will not shirk the battle when they play Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.
Villa (7-9-15) slipped to third from bottom after losing 2-1 at home to Liverpool last weekend and with just seven matches remaining in the season, United States international Guzan knows a good result at Stoke is essential to help the Villans maintain their top-flight status. Villa have won just three of their 11 Premier League played in 2013.
"There's a competitive spirit we have in the dressing room where we fight for each other, and fight for the shirt." Guzan told Aston Villa club website. "Every game is physical and the more that we can get into team's faces and make it difficult for them to play, the better it is for us.
"It's high tempo, high energy. We want to make it difficult for them. Stoke are a big team, we'll have to go there, be confident and make sure we win those battles. It's a man's game and you have to be a man about it, win balls in the air, whatever it may be. We have to be ready to compete. That's what the Premier League is all about."
Stoke (7-13-11) have had a miserable run recently and earned just five points out of a possible 33 since the turn of the year - which is a league low. They have kept only one clean sheet in 13 games and scored just once in their last five league outings.
The Potters are in 14th place in the table on 34 points - just four ahead of Villa - and in danger of being dragged down into a relegation dogfight during the final weeks of the season.
Tony Pulis has said he will not quit as Stoke manager and remains in confident mood ahead of Saturday's crucial match.
"It's a big test, not just for the players but the supporters and everyone else," Pulis told the Stoke club website. "We stick together and show what we are - and that's a club that when called upon stands together."
"We want to have Matty in the team because he gives us balance on that left-hand side," added Pulis. "On his day, especially at our place with the supporters behind him, he's a real handful.
"The problem is his back and his groin and it's very, very important that we don't rush him because we've got seven games left. But whoever is fit will really go out there and give it a go."
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has confirmed Brett Holman and Darren Bent will both be in the squad for Saturday's match. Midfielder Holman missed the 2-1 defeat against Liverpool with a hamstring injury, while striker Bent hasn't featured since February 10 due to a virus and ankle problem.
These two sides played out a scoreless draw at Villa Park in December in this season's reverse fixture. Stoke defender Ryan Shotton was sent off late in stoppage time after being shown a second yellow card.
Villa will be looking for their first win at the Britannia Stadium, which opened in August 1997. The last time Villa won at Stoke was back in August 1984, when they beat the Potters 3-1 at the Victoria Ground, their former home ground.
Via: [Live Football] PFK Pirin Blagoevgrad - PFK Litex Lovech - Bulgarian A PFG
No comments:
Post a Comment