watch tv: Manchester United vs Aston Villa live streaming epl on 10 february 2010.

ASTON VILLA:
Aston Villa's victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in December was their first at the venue for 26 years and has given Martin O'Neill's side the opportunity to end a record that has stood considerably longer.

The last time Villa completed a league double over their Carling Cup final opponents was 55 years ago, so the dress rehearsal for theWembley showpiece later this month has an added significance for O'Neill's side.

Although the Northern Irishman knows that Gabby Agbonlahor's solitary goal, which lowered United's colours two months ago, will have been a particularly irksome thorn in the side of Sir Alex Ferguson and revenge is something he knows the Scot does particularly well.

For all his praise of Villa's success at the time and talk of them being outsiders for the Premier League title, Ferguson will have made it one of his priorities to teach the upstarts a lesson and less than three weeks before they meet in the Carling Cup final would be a perfect time to do so.

O'Neill knows he and his players tweaked the tail of the tiger that day and said: "I have no doubt that they will be stronger for that. The manager has said that when they lose a game or two they fight back more strongly and that has been pretty apparent in their league campaigns for some time.

"The victory at Old Trafford was a massive boost to our confidence, but I would think that would galvanise them so expect them to be at their strongest now."

O'Neill insists the game will have no bearing whatsoever on the Carling Cup encounter on February 28 and Villa have more interest in trying to extend an unbeaten record since the turn of the year.

If goals have been difficult to come by for them, clean sheets have not. Eight in their last ten matches underline what a difficult side they have become to beat, but O'Neill wants an end to their poor run in front of goal and believes it is a collective effort.

"Of course we would like more goals and that is up to everyone who comes in. I am fully aware that we cannot win games unless we score goals, but that is not down to individuals. Everyone has a responsibility for that," added O'Neill.

Strategy: Villa were accused of operating a rather defensive policy in their 0-0 draw with Tottenham on Saturday, something which O'Neill vehemently refutes. The onus on his team will be to be adventurous. That was how they achieved their success at OldTrafford.

However they are likely to want to pick their moments, rather than just adopt a gung -ho approach and may well end up playing on the counter attack, even at home. O'Neill will not make any special plans to try to contain Wayne Rooney. He is confident that Richard Dunne and James Collins can keep the in-form England international in check.

Injury Update: Stephen Warnock (shin) is still resting on the advice of doctors, after having injections in the problem area. Emile Heskey has had scans on a groin injury and Nigel Reo-Coker is out for the rest of the season with an ankle problem.

Manchester United FC vs Aston Villa FC live

10-02-2010 from 20:45 until 22:45(ET)
Live/Repeat : Live
Barclays Premier League 2009/2010

watch-football-online.co.uk

MANCHESTER UNITED:
This might be a dress rehearsal for the first domestic final of the season but all Ferguson will be interested in is getting the three points his side need to maintain their challenge for a fourth straight title.

This is the time when few, if any slip-ups will be tolerated from Ferguson, especially with Chelsea showing few signs of dropping points.

United are in fine form themselves, however and last weekend's demolition of Portsmouth showed they are determined to hound Carlo Ancelotti's side all the way.

A major bonus for Ferguson has been the blossoming form of Nani, who is starting to come out of the shadows of Cristiano Ronaldo, his fellow countryman.

Ferguson believes the Portugal international can now have a significant impact on United's final third of the season, a period in which defender Wes Brown admits there can be no mistakes.

Brown believes United's Carling Cup semi-final victory over Manchester City has given them the platform to go up a gear now and he said: "Once we get to this stage of the season it is no longer about wanting to win.

"We have to win. We have to play well and we have to score goals.We have had some good results in the last few weeks while Chelsea have dropped points against Hull. Recent results mean we have a lot of confidence at the moment.. Hopefully we can keep it that way.

"Those two games (against City) were brilliant. Coming off after the second leg knowing we had beaten them and earned a place at Wembley gave everyone a massive lift.

"When you look at the table now, anyone could take it, but knowing other teams have dropped points only matters if we keep winning.

"What does gives you a bit of a confidence is knowing that when you go into a game, you finish it by being top."

Strategy: Ferguson will wary of Villa's blistering pace on the counter-attack, but knows United must try to dominate the
midfield battle if they are to come away with three more points.

He will impress upon United that they need to take the initiative and continue with the attacking levels they have displayed of late in order to take the sting out of Villa's challenge.

Once again Wayne Rooney's influence will be pivotal, while veteran defender Gary Neville believes the England striker now has some world class support from Nani on the flanks.

Neville said: "Nani's performances in the past few weeks against Hull, Manchester City and Arsenal have been absolutely

fantastic. He has incredible ability, and when he performs like he did against Arsenal he is unstoppable.

"Players like Nani, who have such high skill levels, rely on confidence. We hope the level of performance, commitment, determination and skill he has shown in the last few games can be maintained until the end of the season because he's a match winner for us.

"People expect so much from young players, but it sometimes takes time. It took time for Cristiano Ronaldo to settle in at United as well. But I think Nani can be anything he wants to be."

Injury Update: Nemanja Vidic could return from a calf strain to bolster United's defence for what would be his first game of 2010. John O'Shea and Owen Hargreaves remain long-term absentees.

source-football.fanhouse.co.uk