This game will go ahead despite the tragic news that Wales manager, Gary Speed, has apparently taken his own life.  Naturally, with the game being in Wales and a number of internationals involved, the game will inevitably be effected in some way. Such sad news.

Alex McLeish has promised a better performance than we were treated to at White Hart Lane and, in all honesty, it would be difficult to be much worse. It will certainly be a contrast in styles as Brendan Rogers’ Swansea side like to stroke the ball around a bit, building from the back.

Only Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea resort to long balls less frequently. McLeish’s Villa, on the other hand, are only beaten in tendency to hit it long by Stoke, Norwich and Blackburn.

Fortunately, for all their possession and passing football, the home side barely generate more chances that Villa, averaging 3.7 shots on target per game compared to our 3.0; ranking 18th and 19th respectively.

Here’s how the two managers are sending their teams out today:

Castrol Football Prediction

Form

Last five results for this fixture: