Aston Villa
Vs
Fulham
Sunday 30th August 2009
Venue: Villa Park
Kick-off: 16:00
Watch live on ESPN
Davies doubtful for Villa
Aston Villa central defender Curtis Davies is a major doubt because of a long-standing shoulder problem and Shane Lowry could come in to face Fulham at home.
Left-back Stephen Warnock will be in line for his debut after completing his move from Blackburn on a four-year deal.
Clint Dempsey is expected to overcome an ankle injury for Fulham and Danny Murphy (calf), Paul Konchesky (knee) and Bobby Zamora (Achilles) face late fitness tests.
Andrew Johnson (shoulder), Simon Davies (foot) and Toni Kallio (Achilles) are out.
Jonathan Greening could make his debut but fellow new signing Kagisho Dikgacoi is still lacking match fitness.
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson believes Villa counterpart Martin O Neill has become an unfortunate victim of the increasing demand for success within modern football.
O Neill criticised sections of the Villa Park crowd after his side were booed off following their opening day home defeat to Wigan.
Hodgson was shocked to hear of the booing but admits barracking by the crowd is something that has become part and parcel of the game.
"When you get a couple of defeats then all of a sudden you find yourself in a silly crisis situation now," said Hodgson.
"That's something we have learned from French football, where you can go 17 games unbeaten and get booed off if you lose the 18th. There was a time when that never used to happen but it does now.
"It's unfair but that's the world we live in. We have seen Premier League football almost take over the football interest of the whole of the world.
"You can walk down the street in Russia and get recognised so that's what good it does in terms of globalisation.
"But on the flip side there's more money involved, there's more pressure because no-one wants to move away from the money and results become even more important than they did in the past.
"You're not going to see those things that I vaguely remember from my childhood at Crystal Palace in the third division south when the team was applauded off the pitch having been beaten quite soundly.
"As much as I'd like to see that happen again, I don't think it's going to."
