Palace Preview: Vieira sends message for Eagles’ final fixtures

PAST MEETINGS

The two sides have met twice in south London since the Eagles’ last trip to Villa Park, taking a win apiece. It was Aston Villa victorious this season as John McGinn’s late goal was enough to stymie a Palace fightback.

The previous season was a more positive occasion as Tyrick Mitchell scored his first goal for the club in an action-packed five-goal thriller.

Palace will be looking for revenge in their next trip to Villa Park after losing 3-0 last time out in Aston.

PREVIEW

Despite the season drawing to a close with a comfortable mid-table position secured, Patrick Vieira has made no secret of his desire for Palace to treat every game with as much importance as the last.

“We have to keep treating those games the same way, keep challenging ourselves to improve and use the season as a strong foundation to keep progressing individually and collectively,” he said of the campaign drawing to a close.

“In every period you learn a lot about the players and they will learn something about me as well – who I am as a coach and what I expect from them. Something they will learn from me is about what I expect from them until the last day of the season.”

With two wins on the bounce and the possibility for a third at Villa Park on Saturday, the squad has obviously absorbed the message.

After Wilfried Zaha’s late winner at Southampton, a relatively stress-free three points against Watford followed to leave Palace sitting in 11th place, just three points behind Brighton & Hove Albion – and with a superior goal difference and a game in hand.

They have a one-point advantage over this weekend’s opposition, with Villa looking to secure a top-half finish under Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard will have counted his side unlucky to lose against his former side Liverpool midweek, when a second-half Sadio Mané header completed a turnaround after Douglas Luiz gave Villa an early lead.

With a trip to Manchester City still to come, the former midfielder will be keen to get as many points on the board as possible before the final day.

TACTICAL OVERVIEW

Palace fans were treated to an exciting lineup against Watford last time out, with Conor Gallagher and Eberechi Eze in midfield supporting a front three of Michael Olise, Odsonne Edouard and Wilfried Zaha.

With plenty of threat offered by Aston Villa, Vieira may be encouraged to re-introduce Cheikhou Kouyaté to the side, while Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jordan Ayew are also options in attack.

For Aston Villa, goalscorer against Liverpool Luiz is supported by the tireless work of John McGinn and the creativity of Philippe Coutinho in midfield, with the pace of Ollie Watkins up-front.

Eighteen-year-old midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka is one to watch, whether from the start or as a late substitute, as one of Villa’s more exciting youth prospects. Fellow graduate Jacob Ramsey will also hope to feature after missing out on the Liverpool game through injury.