ls and four assists in his last nine games against the Predat

Southampton captain Jose Fonte has been passed fit to make the trip to face Aston Villa on Saturday.The Portuguese defender was forced off with a head injury before half-time during their 1-1 draw at Everton last weekend, but has been cleared to play for Ronald Koemans side at Villa Park.Aston Villa will play at home for the first time since having their relegation confirmed, with caretaker boss Eric Black hoping to arrest a run of nine straight league defeats. Southampton, meanwhile, will be hoping for a victory to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League next season alive. They currently sit eighth in the table, three points behind Liverpool in seventh. Although Jurgen Klopps side have a game in hand. Eric Black will be hoping to arrest a run of nine straight defeats Team newsBlack has revealed Kieran Richardson and Ciaran Clark are both doubts for clash with Southampton. Both players are struggling with niggling injuries and will be assessed ahead of the game.As well as Fonte, midfielder Victor Wanyama is also fit to face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.Fonte (head) and Wanyama (ribs) were both taken to hospital following the draw with Everton but have passed fitness tests.Charlie Austin and Florin Gardos (both knee) remain on the sidelines. Southampton were held to a 1-1 draw vy Villa in the reverse fixture in December Opta statsAston Villa have won just one of their last seven Premier League matches against Southampton (D3 L3).Last season, Sadio Mane scored the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history when they played against Aston Villa at St. Marys (2m 56s).Mane has scored three goals in his last four Premier League games for Southampton; this after a run of 19 league appearances without scoring.There have been just seven goals scored in the last six Premier League meetings between Villa and Saints at Villa Park. Mane scored a the fastest Premier League hat-trick against Aston Villa last season Shane Long has scored five goals in his last six Premier League appearances against Aston Villa.In fact, Long has netted more goals (five) against Aston Villa than he has mustered against any other Premier League opponent.Aston Villa have won just two of their last 18 Premier League home games (D4 L12) and lost the last five in a row. They have never lost six consecutively at home in their history.In those last five matches at Villa Park, the already relegated club have scored just two goals and conceded 17.Graziano Pelle has had a hand in seven goals in his last five Premier League appearances for Saints (four goals, three assists).Aston Villa have spent a league-low 184 minutes in the lead in Premier League matches this season.Mersons predictionsWhat score do you want? I cant see anything other than a Southampton win. I felt sorry for Joleon Lescott in the week because his comments about relegation being a relief were not meant like that. He meant the club could concentrate on bouncing back next season, so a lot of the criticism he received was unwarranted. Villa should give the kids a chance and see what theyre like ahead of next season - see who can be kept and who cant.Paul predicts: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds 5/1) Aston Villas relegation was confirmed last weekend BettingUnderdogs Aston Villa are 11/2 with Sky Bet to give the Villa Park faithful something to shout about by recording a win against 8/15 shots Southampton. While Villa are down the Saints still have plenty to play for with a top six place up for grabs and are 16/1 shots to do so.The last two meetings at Villa Park have ended in draws and another stalemate is available at 29/10. Soccer Saturday pundit Charlie Nicholas doesnt think it will be close this time and is tipping Southampton to win 3-0 at 17/2 and Saido Mane and Graziano Pelle both to score at 5/1.Get the latest odds and tips from our Sky Sports pundits here. Jamie Redknapp joins Ed Chamberlain to preview all Saturdays action in the Premier League. Cheap Custom Basketball Jerseys Online . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Cheap Custom Basketball Jerseys Store . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. http://www.customjerseysbasketball.com/ . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. Clearance Custom Basketball Jerseys .S District Court against Major League Baseball, the Office of the Commissioner and his own union, the MLBPA. Custom Basketball Jerseys Outlet . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto.DALLAS -- For the first time this season, Dallas Stars coach Lindy Ruff started Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin on a line centered by Jason Spezza.They came up big against the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.Benn scored his 200th career goal and added two assists, Spezza also had a goal and two assists, and Seguin added a goal and an assist to lead the Stars to a 5-2 win over the Predators.Its been no secret around here that our top players havent been our top players, Benn said. Its something we take personally, and weve got to be better, and we all know it.Benn wasnt impressed by his milestone goal, focusing on the win instead.It felt like any other goal, he said. Its not really a big deal to me. Its much better to get two points and get a win.Spezzas goal was his first in 13 games, and Benn hadnt scored in his previous four. Seguin has three goals in the last four games.The new line could be together for a while.Ill keep anything together that works, Ruff said. Its good to see all those guys get a goal.Antoine Roussel had a goal and assist and Brett Ritche also scored for the Stars. Kari Lehtonen stopped 33 shots, including all 21 in the second period.(Lehtonen) didnt have a lot of action but what he really did well was he fought through traffic to find some pucks, Ruff said. Really well, especially second period.Viktor Arvidsson and Calle Jarnkrok scored for Nashville. Pekka Rinne came in with a 2.23 goals-against average, but gave up four goals on 18 shots in 25:47 before leaving early in the second period. Marek Mazanec came on and stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced.Predators coach Peter Laviolette was brief in his postgame comments, saying: Well, they showed up to play and we were a no-show. Frustrating. Thank you.Dallas extended a 2-1 lead to 5-1 on second-period goals by Spezza, Roussel and Seguin.Before that, Benn and Ritchie had scored 23 seconds apart midway through the first to put Dallas up 2-0.Spezza passed from the right boards past Seguin to Benn for a shot from the slot at 9.55. Ritchie sccored at 10:18 when his shot went through Rinne and barely crossed the goal line.dddddddddddd.Arvidssons short-handed goal with 3:57 left in the first came after Dallas John Klingberg broke his stick on an attempted slap shot from the blue line. Austin Watson took the puck and passed ahead to Arvidsson. He shot past the stickless Klingberg, and the puck went in off Lehtonens glove.The Stars outshot Nashville 15-6 in the first period. The shots turned around in the second -- the Predators had a 21-13 edge -- but the Stars scored all three goals in the period.Spezza skated from the left boards past a defender and Rinne to put the puck into the right corner of the net at 3:27.Roussel came out of the penalty box for a 2-on-1 break with Lauri Korpikoski, who passed from the goal line back to Roussel in front for a shot into the upper left of the net at 5:47.Laviolette successfully challenged an apparent goal by Dallas Radek Faksa because of goaltender interference. Sixteen seconds later, Seguin took a pass from Benn in the left circle and one-timed the puck past Mazanec.Game notesBenn, Spezza and Seguin started on the same line for the first time this season. ... Spezza has seven goals and four assists in his last nine games against the Predators. His goal was his first in his last 13 games overall. ... Nashvilles short-handed goal was the fifth Dallas has allowed this season, tied for second-most in the NHL. ... The Predators James Neal had scored a goal in each of his previous three games. ... Dallas has won two of three from Nashville this season. Spezza scored a goal in each of the wins. ... It was the first time in 17 games dating back to Oct. 26 that Rinne was pulled for ineffectiveness.UP NEXTPredators: At Arizona on Saturday to complete a two-game trip. Nashville lost to the Coyotes 3-2 in a shootout at home on Nov. 3.Stars: At Philadelphia on Saturday to begin a two-game trip. ' ' '