Chelsea v Aston Villa

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti hopes being generous to his team will spur them on to victory against Aston Villa on Sunday (Chelsea 1/ 4 to win).

The Italian normally makes his players analyse their previous performance on video ahead of each game, to try and learn from their mistakes.

But Ancelotti has spared his squad that chore following Monday’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Two days later, his relieved players were able to grind out a precious 1-0 win over Bolton at Stamford Bridge to end their worst Premier League run for 11 years.

The victory kept their faltering title defence alive and gave them a much-needed boost ahead of Sunday’s visit of Aston Villa.

“I didn’t show the video against Arsenal,” Ancelotti said. “I normally do show. When the moment is not so good, you don’t have to kill!

“I can show them in the future but not now.”

Chelsea moved up to fourth place by beating Bolton, and will aim for back-to-back wins for the first time in two months.

“This is a very important moment for our players, physically,” Ancelotti said. The team has to show its fitness. We worked very hard for two weeks without a game and the players are in a very good condition.”

Villa’s confidence, already undermined by Boxing Day’s 2-1 home defeat to Tottenham, is at a new low ebb following the 4-0 drubbing at Manchester City on Tuesday (Villa 12/1 to win).

Ashley Young and Emile Heskey will be restored to the starting side after overcoming injuries, but Luke Young has yet to recover from an ankle knock.

Branislav Ivanovic is banned after picking up his fifth booking of the term, so Ancelotti must decide between Jeffrey Bruma and Paulo Ferreira as his replacement.

Wigan v Newcastle

Wigan hope an encouraging result at home to Arsenal last time out has laid the platform for victory over Newcastle at the DW Stadium (Wigan 6/4 to win).

The Latics secured a 2-2 draw against the Gunners on Wednesday, courtesy of a late own goal by Sebastien Squillaci which moved them out of the relegation zone. And that result came hard on the heels of the impressive 2-1 win at Wolves on Boxing Day.

Wigan know they could find themselves back in the bottom three by the time they kick off against the Magpies, but have a fine home record to fall back on. They have lost only three home games all season and are unbeaten in their last six games at the DW Stadium.

Newcastle’s leading scorer Andy Carroll is a major doubt after picking up a thigh strain, but Shola Ameobi is fit again and could be given his chance (Newcastle 9/5 to win).

Captain Kevin Nolan is back after serving a one-game ban, while Jose Enrique and Sol Campbell are both available after injury.

Wigan may give new signing Adrian Lopez his chance against Alan Pardew?s men, and are forced into at least one change.

Striker Charles N’Zogbia is banned for the next three matches, while Antolin Alcaraz has only a 50 per cent chance of playing due to a thigh problem.

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Chelsea v Aston Villa

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti hopes being generous to his team will spur them on to victory against Aston Villa on Sunday (Chelsea 1/ 4 to win).

The Italian normally makes his players analyse their previous performance on video ahead of each game, to try and learn from their mistakes.

But Ancelotti has spared his squad that chore following Monday’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Two days later, his relieved players were able to grind out a precious 1-0 win over Bolton at Stamford Bridge to end their worst Premier League run for 11 years.

The victory kept their faltering title defence alive and gave them a much-needed boost ahead of Sunday’s visit of Aston Villa.

“I didn’t show the video against Arsenal,” Ancelotti said. “I normally do show. When the moment is not so good, you don’t have to kill!

“I can show them in the future but not now.”

Chelsea moved up to fourth place by beating Bolton, and will aim for back-to-back wins for the first time in two months.

“This is a very important moment for our players, physically,” Ancelotti said. The team has to show its fitness. We worked very hard for two weeks without a game and the players are in a very good condition.”

Villa’s confidence, already undermined by Boxing Day’s 2-1 home defeat to Tottenham, is at a new low ebb following the 4-0 drubbing at Manchester City on Tuesday (Villa 12/1 to win).

Ashley Young and Emile Heskey will be restored to the starting side after overcoming injuries, but Luke Young has yet to recover from an ankle knock.

Branislav Ivanovic is banned after picking up his fifth booking of the term, so Ancelotti must decide between Jeffrey Bruma and Paulo Ferreira as his replacement.

Wigan v Newcastle

Wigan hope an encouraging result at home to Arsenal last time out has laid the platform for victory over Newcastle at the DW Stadium (Wigan 6/4 to win).

The Latics secured a 2-2 draw against the Gunners on Wednesday, courtesy of a late own goal by Sebastien Squillaci which moved them out of the relegation zone. And that result came hard on the heels of the impressive 2-1 win at Wolves on Boxing Day.

Wigan know they could find themselves back in the bottom three by the time they kick off against the Magpies, but have a fine home record to fall back on. They have lost only three home games all season and are unbeaten in their last six games at the DW Stadium.

Newcastle’s leading scorer Andy Carroll is a major doubt after picking up a thigh strain, but Shola Ameobi is fit again and could be given his chance (Newcastle 9/5 to win).

Captain Kevin Nolan is back after serving a one-game ban, while Jose Enrique and Sol Campbell are both available after injury.

Wigan may give new signing Adrian Lopez his chance against Alan Pardew?s men, and are forced into at least one change.

Striker Charles N’Zogbia is banned for the next three matches, while Antolin Alcaraz has only a 50 per cent chance of playing due to a thigh problem.

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