January 2009 Archives

We have started a new service here for local football fans... our Live Blog brings together our sports writers and our fans on one live blog.

So far we have had a massive interest - mainly from Blues fans! We want to change that. This Saturday we are concentrating on the Villa game in the afternoon - spread the word, share it on the forums you use. We have had some great interaction with the Villa fans abroad.

It's also a good opportunity to talk libe online to our Villa writers Mat Kendrick and Bill Howell. Here's the format below.... look forward to seeing you! email me at steve.wollaston@sundaymercury.net if you want more details.

http://www.sundaymercury.net/midlands-sport/aston-villa-fc/2009/01/28/log-on-for-live-football-chat-and-action-involving-birmingham-city-aston-villa-west-brom-and-wolves-97319-22789807/

VILLA can win the FA Cup this year if they can safely negotiate their way through Saturday's tricky fourth-round tie.

I know Villa won't discover who they are playing until after Doncaster's replay with Cheltenham tonight.

But, having battled past Gillingham in the last round, Villa will be well drilled about what to expect against lower-league opponents. And if Martin O'Neill's men do emerge victorious from their away tie then I see no reason why 2009 can't be their year at long last.

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is on the verge of completing a surprise £3.5million move for Wigan's England striker Emile Heskey.

The Irishman has been keen to be reunited with the 31-year-old for 12 months and has finally dug deep to get a player expected to join Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer.

Heskey could even be available to face Doncaster Rovers tomorrow as he missed Wigan's third round tie against Tottenham Hotspur with a hamstring injury.

OK, it's an old clip, but does anyone get the feeling Gabby Agbonlahor is going to miss Ashley Young during his three-match ban?

Don't worry Gabby, Ashley is fully behind you....now where did he go????

TRUST me, the only way West Brom will get anything at Villa Park on Saturday is if one of the Villa players volleys the ball into his own net.

The reason I say that is that all I can remember from my one and only Villa-Albion derby is me nearly smashing an own goal past Nigel Spink.

We were playing them in the FA Cup at The Hawthorns in February 1990 and we won 2-0.

But it might not have been quite so comfortable had Spinksy not shown good handling to stop my shot flying past him.

It was the days when back-passes were still allowed so I attempted to guide the ball to him, but it came at me quicker than I expected and I ended up smashing a fierce volley, which fortunately he saved!

Own goals aside, I can't see Tony Mowbray's strugglers causing too many problems for Martin O'Neill's in-form team this weekend.

I know John Carew did a lot of the damage in the 2-1 win at The Hawthorns but even without him Villa have plenty of firepower to beat the Baggies.

My prediction is 4-1 to Villa with Ashley Young scoring two, along with goals from Gabby Agbonlahor and James Milner, and a consolation from Jonathan Greening.