Aston Villa battle for Premier League survival with Queens Park Rangers
Aston Villa entertain Queens Park Rangers in a clash that could determine their respective fates in the English top flight. Also at stake are the fledgling managerial careers of good friends Tim Sherwood and Chris Ramsey.
Issued on: Modified:
It's a classic relegation dogfight. Aston Villa have 28 points and are just above the drop zone in 17th. Their guests at Villa Park on Monday night are Queens Park Rangers who are second from bottom with 25 points.
Villa manager Tim Sherwood has told his players to be ready for what he describes as the club's biggest match for years.
Sherwood has no need for hyperbole. The facts are salient. Tonight's clash in the west midlands of England could have a significant bearing on the fight for survival.
Sherwood, who started his managerial career with Tottenham last season, said: "I think this is the biggest game that a lot of these players have ever played for this football club.
"This is without doubt the biggest game of the season for Villa and possibly one of the biggest in a number of years, and this is the biggest of my managerial career."
Sherwood failed to convince during a brief spell as manager of Spurs. He was replaced at the start of the 2014/15 season by the former Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino.
When 46-year-old Sherwood was at Spurs, he was attempting to take the side into the Uefa champions league to rub shoulders with the elite of the European game. Aspirations are a tad lower at Villa. In 1982 Villa beat Bayern Munich 1-0 to win the European Cup.
More than three decades later, the Bavarians still mix with the top clubs on the continent attracting a dazzling array of ubercoaches such as Ottmar Hitzfeld, Louis van Gaal, Jupp Heynckes and latterly Pep Guardiola.
Villa, by contrast, seek out unfabled names such as Alex McLeish, Paul Lambert and now Sherwood. With such a roster, it's clear that Villa are simply concerned with staying in the Premier League.
Sherwood's QPR counterpart Chris Ramsey was his assistant at Spurs and the men are good friends. "If there was ever an opportunity for me to work with him again I would do that," said Sherwood.
"I would have to speak to Aston Villa about whether we could find a role for him here. He is up there with the very best coaches I have ever seen."
The two speak at least once a week on the phone but friendship will be on hold tonight.
"We live near each other so sometimes there is a pint to be had," Ramsey said. "Tim was very sought after once he left Tottenham. I think he did a very good job there. I'm happy for him that he's gone to a big club like Aston Villa. But I'll be going to Aston Villa as a representative of Queens Park Rangers and I'm sure he'll be feeling the same way wanting to do the best for his club. The game isn't about me and Tim, it's more about Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers."
QPR's survival hopes were given a huge boost on Saturday with a 4-1 victory at West Bromwich Albion.
A second consecutive win would lift them above Villa in the table and plunge Villa into the relegation zone.
"The game will be very important for both teams," said Ramsey. "They want to get the points early so they can get their thoughts on the beach with four or five games to go. No-one wants to be travelling on the coach on the last day needing to win 3-0 to stay up."
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning
Subscribe