Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa preview

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has spent the week playing down reports of a massive player rebellion at Villa Park and he now needs his side to do the talking on the pitch.

There has been massive speculation regarding problems behind-the-scenes, with John Carew and Stephen Ireland rumoured to have issues with Houllier and Richard Dunne reported to have a massive training ground bust-up with assistant Gary McAllister over tactics and training.

Both Wigan and Aston Villa are struggling near the wrong end of the festive season, with neither showing any real form. Roberto Martinez's side have won just one of their last 10 league games and Villa's win over West Brom last weekend was only their second win in eleven.

Houllier lifted the gloom over Villa with that win over rivals West Brom and it will be the first time in a while they go into a game with some confidence behind them and are 7/4 to win, but the pressure could be right back on him if they go down at Wigan. The Latics are better on their home patch though and are unbeaten in five games at the DW Stadium.

The injury list for Houllier has started to ease, but a massive blow for Villa is that Ashley Young is ruled out of the game having been unable to train due to a knee problem. There have been rumours in the press the England winger may miss most of the festive period. Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who is 13/2 to score the first goal, is back from the chest infection and gives his manager an additional striking option. Houllier is likely to make a late decision on whether to start with Agbonlahor or stick with Emile Heskey.

For Wigan, Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa are both suspended for the clash but their on-loan Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley could be available after his injury last time out was not as bad as initially feared. Scoring goals has been Wigan's major flaw this season, with only eight home goals, and that is something that needs to be corrected if they want to win this game at 9/5 and start to climb the table.

Wigan don’t score many at home, and Villa have scored only five goals on their travels and lost six away league game so far this season – so the statistics don't prompt at a spectacular clash. The visitors have won on their last three visits to the DW Stadium, and Houllier will know that a win at the weekend could help Villa climb a very tight mid-table, with them in 14th only four points behind Sunderland in seventh.