Aston Villa vs Swansea: Premier League match preview

Can Aston Villa keep their current run going?

Tim Sherwood celebrates at the Stadium of Light as Gus Poyet looks away (GETTY IMAGES)

After an initial slow start to his tenure, overseeing defeats to Stoke and Newcastle, Aston Villa finally look to be reaping the rewards of the decision to hire Tim Sherwood. Two morale-boosting victories over West Brom look to have done wonders for the confidence of the camp, as proven by the four goals thumped in during a first-half blitz at the Stadium of Light last weekend. With the club edging away from the relegation zone, Sherwood will be anxious to put a third straight league win on the board.

Swansea boss Gary Monk claimed his side were ‘unlucky’ to lose against Liverpool on Monday night, and will be hoping his side get back to winning ways at Villa Park. The visitors edged the reverse fixture by just one goal on Boxing Day, so Monk will know all about the strengths of this weekend’s opponents.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm.

PAST THREE MEETINGS...

Swansea (Sigurdsson) 1-0 Aston Villa, Premier League, December 2014

Swansea (Bony 2, Shelvey, Hernandez) 4-1 Aston Villa (Agbonlahor), Premier League, April 2014

Aston Villa (Agbonlahor) 1-1 Swansea City (Lamah), Premier League, December 2014

STATS...

Aston Villa had not scored a Premier League goal on the road for 598 minutes until Christian Benteke set them on their way to a 4-0 romp at Sunderland last weekend.

The hosts have beaten Swansea just once in seven Premier League fixtures.

Swansea have not lost three games in a row all season.

CLASSIC MOMENT...

Swansea 4-1 Aston Villa - 2014

Jonjo Shelvey scored the goal of his life as Swansea City crushed their Midlands opponents 4-1. With the scores level at one apiece, Ron Vlaar’s clearance fell to Shelvey on the edge of the centre circle just inside the Villa half. In one fluid movement, the former Liverpool man controlled the ball before volleying a looping shot over Brad Guzan into the top corner of the goal. Breathless.

TV: MOTD - BBC1 - 10.20pm