Someone would have written that we're a great place to go when you're in a slump but I don't buy into that any longer. I did, but not under Unai. We're a place where you know you're going to get a difficult match.
Naturally there are days when that isn't going to be the case, but for the most part we are not a place where teams look forward to going. Or they might, for the stadium and atmosphere, but not because they think it's an easy three points.
And just because Manchester City are in a slump doesn't mean that this should be a match we think we're going to win. I don't think we can think that about any side in this League and I still fancy Manchester City can win the the League this season and when they turn this around, because they will turn this around, they're going to be a force.
And we will approach this match like every other match. The manager will have a plan and the players will know it and hopefully they will be able to implement it. Do that and we stand a chance. Do that and by the time 3pm comes about, we could be back in the top four.
Right. That's it for now. Sorry for quiet week. It's been a busy one. And I've got to get to the ski hill - lots of snow here!
Match facts from the BBC
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**Head-to-head**
* Aston Villa's only victory in the past 17 meetings in all competitions was by 1-0 at home in the Premier League on 6 December last year (D2, L14).
* They can earn consecutive home league wins against Manchester City for the first time since 1993.
* A 31st Premier League triumph for City in this fixture would equal their most against one opponent. They've beaten Newcastle 31 times.
**Aston Villa**
* It's six defeats in 11 competitive matches for Aston Villa, who had been unbeaten in their preceding 11 fixtures.
* They have averaged 1.5 points per league game this calendar year, compared to 2.02 points in 2023.
* Villa have only taken one point from their five fixtures against teams currently above them in the table this season. Manchester City are fifth, Villa seventh.
* Nonetheless, they are on a seven-match unbeaten home run in the Premier League, while their only defeat in the past 13 top-flight games at Villa Park was 2-0 against Arsenal in August.
* Aston Villa have conceded 25 league goals this season, 5.5 more than anticipated according to Opta's expected goals against metric
* Unai Emery's solitary won in 15 matches as a manager against Pep Guardiola came in last season's corresponding fixture (D4, L10).
* Jhon Duran has scored in all five starts for Villa in all competitions this season.
* Youri Tielemans is one short of his 200th Premier League appearance.
**Manchester City**
* Eight defeats in City's past 11 matches in all competitions is as many as they lost in their previous 106 fixtures.
* They are winless in seven successive away games in all competitions for the first time since a run of 10 from January to April 2011 under Roberto Mancini (D1, L6).
* Manchester City have conceded multiple goals in seven straight away matches for the first time since a run of eight from May to October 2001.
* City's tally of 27 points is their lowest at this stage of a season since 2009-10 under Mark Hughes. That season, they won their 17th game to go to 29 points.
* They have earned just four points from their past seven Premier League fixtures, a joint-low alongside Southampton.
* Pep Guardiola's side have recorded a league-high 282 goal attempts this season but their shot conversion rate of 9.9% is City's lowest since 2006-07.
* Phil Foden has had 24 shots without scoring in the Premier League this season, the most of any player yet to register a goal.
* Jack Grealish has gone 35 appearances without a goal for Manchester City in all competitions. He has played only four minutes of City's three visits to Villa Park since leaving his boyhood club.
* Bernardo Silva is poised to become the second Portuguese player to make 250 Premier League appearances, emulating Luís Boa Morte.