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Manchester United logo
Premier League
Mar 29, 2014 at 12.45pm UK
 
Aston Villa logo

4-1

Rooney (19', 45' pen.), Mata (56'), Hernandez (90')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Westwood (12')

Preview: Manchester United vs. Aston Villa

Sports Mole previews the Premier League match between Man United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford, as the hosts look to bounce back from derby disappointment.

David Moyes learned this week how quickly things can change in the cut-throat world of football.

Last week, he guided Manchester United to a crucial comeback win over Olympiacos in the Champions League and a 2-0 victory at West Ham United.

Now, the 'Moyes Out' movement is as loud as it has ever been and is planning a protest this weekend.

It took Edin Dzeko only 43 seconds to bring the United manager back down to earth with a bump on Tuesday night as they suffered a comprehensive Manchester derby defeat at Old Trafford.

This result was quick in following another huge home disappointment at the hands of their other fierce rivals, Liverpool, and proved too much for some fans who had previously listened to Moyes's plea for time.

Reports are claiming that a United fanzine is raising money to fund a plane, carrying a banner calling for the Scot to be sacked, over the ground when the Premier League champions host Aston Villa on Saturday.

Regardless of the result then, it could be a dark day for Moyes, but the former Everton boss can only concentrate on matters on the pitch, where he will be without Robin van Persie due to injury.

The Dutch striker is expected to miss a further four weeks with a knee problem, while Nemanja Vidic is also unavailable and his central defensive colleagues Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans major doubts and unlikely to be risked ahead of the daunting visit of Bayern Munich 72 hours later.

Therefore, Phil Jones and Rio Ferdinand are likely to start together at the back, while in midfield there could be recalls for Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs, who has not played since the win over Olympiacos.

Like United, Villa enter this weekend on the back of a result which ended their recent upturn in form. Christian Benteke scored after five minutes against Stoke City, before the Potters came back in style.

Paul Lambert's men, who had won their previous two games, eventually succumbed to a 4-1 loss at Villa Park, where they have struggled this season, picking up as many points on the road.

First-team regulars Karim El Ahmadi and Andreas Weimann both limped off against Stoke to join long-term absentees Libor Kozak, Jores Okore and Charles N'Zogbia in the treatment room.

There could be a recall on the wing for Mark Albrighton, who has featured as a substitute in each of Villa's last three games, while Matt Lowton may return at right-back, pushing Leandro Bacuna into midfield.

United will remain seventh in the table no matter the result, while Villa, who are nine points clear of the relegation zone, could climb back into the top half of the table with victory in Manchester.

Recent form

Man United: LWWLWL

Villa: LWWLDL

Possible starting lineups

Man United: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Welbeck; Mata; Rooney

Villa: Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Bertrand; Bacuna, Westwood, Delph; Albrighton, Agbonlahor, Benteke

Sports Mole says: 2-1


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Manchester United's Scottish manager David Moyes leaves the field after the UEFA Champions League football match between Manchester United and Shakhtar Donetsk at Old Trafford on December 10, 2013
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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