Premier League: Aston Villa v Fulham match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Villa Park

Matt Lowton celebrates after scoring a wonder goal for Aston Villa against Stoke (GETTY IMAGES)

Villa have only just clambered out of the relegation mire thanks in part to the brilliance of Matt Lowton, with the right-back thundering home the goal which saw Stoke deflated and Villa claim their third win in four.

They will need to keep their wits about them against a Fulham side unlucky not to scramble together enough to equalise with Newcastle last week, and with Dimitar Berbatov lurking, Villa’s young backline will be wary of Fulham’s more seasoned attackers.

As for the visitors, they will be hoping to stifle Andreas Weimann and Christian Benteke, while hoping to dispatch Brede Hangeland as often as possible from set-pieces. Villa are, after all, still in a precarious position.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Fulham (Baird) Aston Villa 0 Premier League, October 2012

Aston Villa 1 (Weimann) Fulham 0 Premier League, March 2012

Fulham 0 Aston Villa 0 Premier League, November 2011

STATS…

Mathew Lowton already has 9 yellow cards this season, with Damian Duff and Bryan Ruiz to test him on Saturday.

Aston Villa have lost at home 8 times, more than any other team bar Wigan, who have also lost 8.

It has been 16 games since Villa last kept a team sheet.

Dimitar Berbatov has had 66 shots so far this season, while Benteke has had 92.

Berbatov has been caught offside 26 times this season, but has a scoring ration of 1 every 2 games.

ODDS…

Aston Villa to win: 2.32

Fulham to win: 3.5

Draw: 3.45

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.20pm