Unai Emery set to end dreadful Aston Villa record vs Crystal Palace as concerning stats emerge
Unai Emery will be determined to get the better of Oliver Glasner when Aston Villa travel to Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
Villa’s 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on Saturday left them third in the table, and their Premier League title hopes are still alive under the Spaniard.
Sitting just six points behind Mikel Arteta’s side, the Villans have to go to Selhurst Park and beat Palace to ensure they’re still in the mix for the title before Arsenal face Liverpool on Thursday.
Villa lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace in August, and not only have they drastically turned their season around ever since, but Palace’s poor form gives Emery’s side a perfect opportunity to end a dreadful run.
Aston Villa have all the tools to end dreadful record vs Crystal Palace
Aston Villa have lost three of their last four Premier League games against Crystal Palace.
They’ve conceded 14 goals in these four games, as many as they had in their previous 15 against the Eagles in the competition.
Crystal Palace have won nine of their 13 Premier League home games against Villa, including six of the last seven and the last three in a row.
In all competitions, Palace boss Glasner has never lost against Aston Villa’s Emery in six meetings.
It’s the most he has faced another manager without losing, while as a top-flight manager, it’s the most Emery has faced another manager without winning.
| Games played | 11 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Draws | 3 |
| Losses | 6 |
Although those stats don’t make for good reading, Palace’s decline in form and injuries mixed with Villa’s fantastic start to the season will certainly leave supporters hopeful.
The Eagles are winless in their last five home Premier League matches, their worst run without a victory at Selhurst Park since between September and December 2023 under Roy Hodgson (seven).
Villa have picked up 42 points in their 20 Premier League games this season, while a win here would have them on 45 points from their opening 21 matches of a league campaign for just the third time in their history.
Emery has never been in a better position to end his misfortunes against Glasner, and Wednesday’s clash has all the hallmarks of an entertaining affair at Selhurst Park.
Ollie Watkins is primed to extend his impressive stats vs Crystal Palace
Ollie Watkins struggled for goals at the start of the season, having scored just once in his first 13 Premier League games.
However, he is currently in a rich vein of form, having scored four goals in his last three games.
The England international has seven goal contributions in 12 matches against the Eagles, although he hasn’t scored in his last three appearances against them.
Watkins’ stunning strike against Forest proved that he is full of confidence at such a crucial part of the campaign, and after a slow start, he looks back to his best.
Villa have several demons to avenge after Palace beat them 3-0 in the FA Cup semi-final in May, and then in the league in August, and Watkins will undoubtedly be spearheading the team towards securing a first win over the Eagles since September 2023.
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