Laursen Ready For Blues Test
Aston Villa skipper Martin Laursen has admitted Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Chelsea represents "the toughest away match in football".
But the Denmark international insisted the long unbeaten league record by the Blues at their own headquarters "has to end sometime" and that Martin O'Neill's side will head into the fixture bubbling with confidence.
Chelsea have not suffered a league reversal at Stamford Bridge for more than four years and have made a positive start in their bid to recapture the title from Manchester United.
But Villa are also on the crest of a wave after a 2-1 home win over Sunderland lifted them into third spot in the table going into this weekend's round of fixtures.
And last season they were involved in a thrilling 4-4 draw with Chelsea at the Bridge after leading 2-0 at one stage before the controversial sending-off of defender Zat Knight.
"We are involved in a heavy schedule of games - seven in 21 days - which will end at Chelsea in what to me has become the toughest away match in football," Laursen said.
"Chelsea haven't lost a league match at home for more than four years although they came pretty close against Manchester United a couple of weeks ago.
"There is just no arguing with the fact that they are immense on home soil - but that unbeaten record has to end sometime and we will to Stamford Bridge in a positive mood.
"Don't forget we drew 4-4 there last Boxing Day and I'm convinced that we would have won if Zat Knight hadn't been harshly sent off when we were two-up just before half-time."
Villa will be seeking a third successive away win after triumphing at Tottenham and West Brom in what was a perfect response to the shock setback at Stoke - their only league reversal of the campaign.
Former AC Milan defender Laursen added: "People say you lay the foundations for football success by winning your home games and then looking to take at least a point on your travels.
"At the moment it seems we are doing it the other way around to an extent. Now we have to try and build on our excellent away performances at Tottenham and West Brom.
"We are in the top four of the table and we want to stay up there but we do recognise how good a side Chelsea are."
Villa manager Martin O'Neill has his feet firmly on the ground in terms of how difficult it will be to break in amongst the elite.
He said: "The obstacles are pretty obvious. You have Manchester United entrenched as one of the great sides in world football. You have Arsenal whose record stands the closest scrutiny over the last 12 years.
"You have Liverpool themselves trying to do it. They have spent money every single season and have fallen short. If Liverpool are falling short in the last number of years, that shows you how difficult it is.
"You are looking at Manchester City. Now they might be an incredible turnaround in the way football is going. We will only know that in January.
"But if they have the capabilities of buying the very best, that could well be a big worry for the top four."
O'Neill is expected to revert to the line-up which has featured in Villa's opening six league games.
Strikers John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor have recovered from slight groin and thigh problems respectively which meant they were not risked in the mid-week UEFA Cup clash with Litex Lovech.
They are expected to return along with Laursen, Curtis Davies, Nigel Reo-Coker and Gareth Barry who were rested against the Bulgarian outfit. |
發表於 2008-10-5 12:28 AM
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