Villa

Aston Villa V Liverpool

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 22 May 2011 – 16:00 (GMT)
Venue: Villa Park

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Preview

Following disappointing campaigns where neither succeeded in completing their respective objectives, both Aston Villa and Liverpool, two clubs which finished in the top-seven and qualified for Europe last season, will be eager to at least end the term on a high with victory on the final day.

Liverpool’s goal for 2010/2011 was well documented, to qualify for the Champions League, while another top-six finish was on the agenda for Villa at the beginning of the season. If truth be told, the final table will make for harsh reading, with neither getting anywhere near their respective targets.

Villa are languishing down in 13th before kick-off and can only finish as high as 9th with victory on Sunday, so even a top-half finish could be beyond them.

As for Liverpool, the Reds once again missed out on Champions League football, for the second successive season, and now require a favour elsewhere from Birmingham City at White Hart Lane if they’re to end the term in fifth-place and in the Europa League.

The onus will be on Liverpool. After losing at home to Spurs a week previous, the Reds are now in a position where they must better Tottenham’s result if they’re to secure European football next term via the Europa League. To some, missing out on Europe’s second tier competition would be a blessing disguise, and I have to say I’d agree, but you’ll see no let-up from Kenny Dalglish, even if his players seemingly aren’t on the same wavelength.

A 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at Anfield last time out will have been a bitter pill to swallow for everyone involved with the club, as not only are the Reds no longer favourites to clinch fifth-place, it was also a terrible way for Liverpool to sign out of Anfield for 2010/2011, with Kenny Dalglish’s first home defeat since taking charge back in January.

But apart from last week’s subdued display on Merseyside, Liverpool have been outstanding under Kenny Dalglish, resurgent even – especially in recent weeks. The loss to Spurs was only their first in six games, having previously collected thirteen points from a possible fifteen beforehand with four wins from five league games, while they’ve also been scoring goals for fun.

Liverpool’s record away to Aston Villa in the Premier League is encouraging as well. Not since 1998 – when  former Red Stan Collymore netted on two separate occasions in a 2-1 triumph – have Villa beaten the Reds at Villa Park, with the Anfield outfit having reigned supreme on seven of their last thirteen visits.

However, Aston Villa’s home form has been considerably better than their away. The Villains have suffered just four defeats at Villa Park this season compared to the ten on their travels, scoring more and conceding fewer goals at home, too.

And the hosts should also have a spring in their step this week. A 2-1 defeat of Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last Sunday saw them produce what was arguably their finest team performance, certainly result, of a lacklustre season.

Darren Bent was on target twice within the opening 15 minutes, taking his tally for his new club to nine as the England forward showed once again precisely why he’s so lethal from close range.

However, it was a resolute, almost herculean Villa defence which left north London with most the plaudits, and the same back-line will need to put in another industrious shift if they’re to deny a Liverpool side who hammered Fulham 5-2 at Craven Cottage in their most recent scurvy away from Merseyside, a quite stunning result when you consider that the Cottagers were unbeaten in seven at home beforehand, having also kept six clean sheets in that eye-catching run, yet Kenny Dalglish’s men blew them out of the water with their forward prowess.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Form

Aston Villa – WDLDW (West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa, Aston Villa 1-1 Stoke, West Brom 2-1 Aston Villa, Aston Villa 1-1 Wigan, Arsenal 1-2 Aston Villa)

Liverpool – DWWWL (Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool, Liverpool 5-0 Birmingham, Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle, Fulham 2-5 Liverpool, Liverpool 0-2 Tottenham)

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Head-to-Head

Aston Villa wins: 9
Draws: 8
Liverpool wins: 20

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa
2009/2010: Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
2009/2010: Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa
2008/2009: Liverpool 5-0 Aston Villa
2008/2009: Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
2007/2008: Liverpool 2-2 Aston Villa
2007/2008: Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool
2006/2007: Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
2006/2007: Liverpool 3-1 Aston Villa

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Streaks & Trends

Liverpool haven’t lost a Premiership match at Villa Park since February 1998, when Stan Collymore, a former Reds player of course, scored twice in a 2-1 victory for the Villains.

The Reds have won seven and lost none of their last thirteen away league meetings with Aston Villa, with their record at Villa Park during the Premier League era as follows: Won 8 Drawn 4 Lost 5.

Aston Villa have tasted defeat on just four occasions at Villa Park this season, with their record at home in the league a tidy Won 7 Drawn 7 Lost 4.

Away from home, Liverpool have managed just five wins from eighteen, shipping 29 goals.

Six of Darren Bent‘s nine league goals for Villa this season were netted in the opening 45 minutes, opening the scoring on three separate occasions.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.40 Bet365

Although there is something at stake for Liverpool – a place in next season’s Europa League should they win on Sunday and Tottenham fail to beat Birmingham City at home, they didn’t look a team determined to finish fifth at Anfield seven days ago, when brushed aside by Tottenham. Having said that, their record at Villa Park is imperious, having won seven and lost none of their previous thirteen Premiership encounters away from home to Aston Villa, and if they’re anything like they were at Craven Cottage in their last away assignment, which was rampant when putting five past a usually rock-solid Fulham, there should be only one winner.

However, Villa were outstanding away to Arsenal and should be in confident mood ahead of their final home game of a dismal season, and boy do the players owe it to their fans to go out on a high. Unfortunately, though, I see this one ending in stalemate, as encounters between the two at Villa Park tend to be tight affairs, so throw in the fact both sets of players can’t wait to hit the beach and it makes the odds on a low-scoring draw very alluring.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Match Odds

Aston Villa – 3.25 VictorChandler
Draw – 3.40 Bet365
Liverpool – 2.38 PaddyPower

Aston Villa V Wigan Athletic

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 7 May 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Villa Park

 - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – – – – – -

Preview

After a dismal season which has centred mainly around survival, the blame game has already started at Villa Park. The fans believe the current manager, Gerard Houllier, is to blame – the Frenchman masterminding just eight wins from his thirty league games in charge of pretty much the same Villa side, in terms of personnel, which pushed Tottenham and Man City close for Champions League qualification last season but ultimately had to settle for Europa League football. The board, however, are of the opinion that they should be the ones whom the brunt of the criticism falls upon.

While the finger pointing exercise continues at Aston Villa, it’s clear that drastic changes are needed in the summer, possibly even a major overhaul of the first-team squad, if the club are to return to top-six contention.

Houllier, who is now out of hospital but is unlikely to return to the touchline any time soon, looks set to be the first big name out of the door, with a combination of poor results and rumours of dressing room unrest valid enough reasons for the board to call time prematurely on the former Liverpool tactician’s reign as manager.

High-profile players are also rumoured to be wanting away from Villa Park, with Ashley Young unlikely to sign a new contract while Stewart Downing’s excellent performances this season have caught the eye of many potential suitors. In the short term, and by that I mean Villa’s final three games of the season, this should be a positive, as it will mean some individuals possibly playing for their careers elsewhere, putting themselves on the market you might say, but the long-term future and stability of Aston Villa is uncertain.

Another club whose future is still up in the air is Wigan Athletic. The Latics are battling for their life’s down near the foot of the table – third from bottom but level on points with Blackpool, who occupy the nearest position of safety – and simply must churn out a result of some sort from this weekend’s trek to the Midlands if they’re to enhance their chances of avoiding the drop.

The omens are good, though, for Wigan, who are without a win in two after a 4-2 defeat at Sunderland and a 1-1 draw at home to Everton last Saturday. In their five previous Premiership encounters with Aston Villa at Villa Park, Wigan are yet to lose, recording three wins and a couple of draws. A point wouldn’t be drastic, however. Heck, had this been the third game of the season as opposed to third-last, a point would have been a fantastic outcome. However, Wigan require victories if they’re to avoid relying on others in and around them slipping up elsewhere in order to prolong their stay in the divison.

The bad news for travelling fans is Wigan’s abysmal away record since the turn of the year, with the Latics having managed a miserly one win from eight away fixtures in 2011. That said, Roberto Martinez’s troops have battled gamely at some tough venues this season, drawing with the likes of Bolton, Everton and Liverpool, while they impressively beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in their very first outing of the season.

Charles N’Zogbia, who has excelled in recent weeks, should recover in time to take his place in the starting XI following a dead leg he picked up in the 1-1 draw with Everton last weekend, in which he opened the scoring with some lovely improvised play before calmly picking out his spot. The French winger has also scored the majority of his league goals this season away from home, so he could be the catalyst for another huge result at Villa Park for Wigan, who have been victorious on their last two visits to the Midlands when faced with Aston Villa.

 - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – – – – – -

Form & Last Result

Aston Villa – DWWDL (Everton 2-2 Aston Villa, Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle, West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa, Aston Villa 1-1 Stoke City, West Brom 2-1 Aston Villa)

Despite taking an early lead and spending much of the second half with a numerical advantage, Aston Villa somehow lost 2-1 at The Hawthorns as the Villains suffered their first ever defeat at the hands of local rivals West Brom in the Premier League. In the process, Villa’s four-match unbeaten run came crashing to an end.

Wigan Athletic – DLWLD (Wigan 0-0 Tottenham, Chelsea 1-0 Wigan, Blackpool 1-3 Wigan, Sunderland 4-2 Wigan, Wigan 1-1 Everton)

The Latics were in a charitable mood last weekend at home to Everton, with Charles N’Zogbia and Hugo Rodallega, arguably the club’s most valuable assets, certainly from an attacking perspective, gifting the Toffees two penalties. Fortunately for Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, his side were only made to pay on one occasion, thanks to a superb save from Ali Al-Habsi to deny Mikel Arteta from the spot on the first occasion. The on-loan goalkeeper could do nothing about Leighton Baines’ well-drilled penalty in the second half however, which cancelled out N’Zogbia’s impressive opener.

 - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – – – – – -

Head-to-Head (Premiership)

Aston Villa wins: 4
Draws: 3
Wigan Athletic wins: 4

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Wigan 1-2 Aston Villa
2009/2010: Wigan 1-2 Aston Villa
2009/2010: Aston Villa 0-2 Wigan
2008/2009: Aston Villa 0-0 Wigan
2008/2009: Wigan 0-4 Aston Villa
2007/2008: Aston Villa 0-2 Wigan
2007/2008: Wigan 1-2 Aston Villa
2006/2007: Aston Villa 1-1 Wigan
2006/2007: Wigan 0-0 Aston Villa

 - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – – – – – -

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.60 Bet365

Villa should be safe from the drop on 41-points, and for a team which has so often been criticised for their lack of heart and endeavour in games this season, I certainly wouldn’t want to be backing them at such slim odds.

With Wigan, however, you know exactly what you’re getting for your money; a team renowned for their hit and miss nature but also a side who can play some beautiful, crisp football at times. Charles N’Zogbia has looked lively in recent weeks and with his team’s need for points of an urgent nature, the Latics should be the hungrier of the two sides and that should go some way to cancelling out Villa’s attacking prowess, not that they make the most of their talented forward set-up.

A hard-fought point for Wigan here, another disappointing result at home for Villa who have only managed two goals in their last three league matches at Villa Park.

 - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – – – – – -

Value Bets

Wigan Athletic +0.5 AH @ 2.08 Bet365

In the five previous Premier League encounters between the two sides at Villa Park, Wigan are yet to lose recording three wins and two draws.

Wigan Athletic to WIN 2-0 (Correct Score) @ 29.00 StanJames

On the three occasions that Wigan have beaten Aston Villa at Villa Park in the Premier League, all were by a 2-0 scoreline, including the last two encounters.

Wigan Athletic to Keep a Clean Sheet @ 6.00 Coral

Aston Villa have drawn a blank in each of their previous three home games with Wigan, and in four of their five home Premiership meetings altogether.

Gabriel Agbonlahor to Score @ 2.88 Boylesports

The Villa forward has four goals to his name against Wigan, including Villa’s one and only strike at Villa Park back in 2007.

 - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – – – – – -

Match Odds

Aston Villa – 1.85 PaddyPower
Draw – 3.60 Bet365
Wigan Athletic – 4.75 VictorChandler

Aston Villa V Stoke City

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 23 April 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Villa Park

You’ll struggle to find two teams in higher spirits right now than Aston Villa and Stoke City, so it’s an exciting prospect that the pair should clash at Villa Park this weekend seeking to secure a victory which would rubber-stamp their participation in next season’s campaign.

Gerard Houllier was a wanted man not so long ago, however seven points from Villa’s last three matches has eased the pressure on him. The Villains should be all but safe from the drop now having reached that sought-after 40-point marker with several games to spare, and at home, where they’ve won three and lost only one of their last five matches, they have a golden opportunity to build on their positive streak as they welcome the only team in the league not to have registered an away point in 2011.

That team is of course Stoke, who have zero points from their six away assignments since the turn of the year. However, it would seem as though they were saving their vintage stuff for Wembley, as the Potters were sublime when blowing Bolton Wanderers out of the water in last Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final. Now their jubilant supporters can look forward to a club-first FA Cup final appearance, though the show-piece isn’t for another three weeks yet and in the mean time the team must focus all their attention on the Premier League and ensuring there’s enough points on the board that relegation isn’t on their minds when that memorable day in the capital does finally arrive.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis will be praying his players don’t lose focus, as while their position in the league table is currently prominent with regards to staving off the drop – 9th having collected 38-points from 32 games, it’s so very easy to be dragged back into the relegation mixer, even more so for them with their poor tendency for travelling.

In contrast, there has been a steely mentality about Aston Villa of late, which was epitomised at Upton Park last weekend. Despite falling behind early on, Villa stormed back, carving out chance after chance with some brilliant attacking moves to seal a priceless away win over one of their main rivals for survival, and with it continued their momentum building exercise, having now won back-to-back league games for only the second time this season and will even embark on their best run of form for twelve months should they inflict a seventh straight away defeat on Stoke at Villa Park.

Stoke’s last league result was a 3-2 reverse away at Tottenham Hotspur, which was hardly a surprising outcome. That said, it was without a doubt their most encouraging away performance yet, and if they can take some of the positives from that particular game – like how they carved open a usually well-guarded Spurs defence on a number of occasions and found the back of the net twice within the opening 45 minutes – and combine it with all the confidence gained from not only dismantling Bolton last weekend but also booking a place in the FA Cup, then Stoke may well spring another surprise.

Neither manager will be forced into making too many changes to winning teams, with both camps free of suspensions and fresh injuries.

 - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

Head-to-Head (Premier League)

Aston Villa wins: 1
Draws: 2
Stoke City wins: 2

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Stoke 2-1 Aston Villa
2009/2010: Stoke 0-0 Aston Villa
2009/2010: Aston Villa 1-0 Stoke
2008/2009: Aston Villa 2-2 Stoke
2008/2009: Stoke 3-2 Aston Villa

Streaks & Trends

Villa have won just one of the previous five Premier League meetings with Stoke.

After back-to-back wins over Newcastle (H:1-0) and West Ham (A:1-2), Aston Villa are on the verge of recording three successive victories in the Premier League for the first time since this time last season (18 April – 25 April 2010).

Five of Villa’s seven league wins at home this season have been by a one-goal margin.

Stoke are the only team in the Premier League yet to register a point on their travels in 2011, losing their last six away matches on the spin (Agg: 3-14).

The Potters have failed to score in 50% (8/16) of their away matches this season.

 - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Aston Villa to WIN – 1.83 PaddyPower

There will be no shortage of confidence, nor smiles for that matter, in either camp, however, Stoke’s record away from home – losing their last six on the spin, four without even scoring – leaves them incredibly exposed heading to Villa Park, home of a rejuvenated Aston Villa outfit and where they were downed 1-0 last season. The Potters, though, have had a tendency to cause Villa problems in recent meetings, as they do for most teams with their formidable aerial prowess, and have only lost one of the previous five Premiership encounters.

A draw will probably prove a popular selection, especially as Villa aren’t all that exciting odds. However, I’m finding it difficult to get away from Stoke’s appalling record on the road in 2011 and against an in-form Villa side who boast so much creativity and a striker in Darren Bent who is as clinical as they come, I reckon the home side are tremendous value at the odds to bring those elated Potters back down to earth with a thud.

Match Odds:

Aston Villa – 1.83 PaddyPower
Draw – 3.75 BetFred
Stoke City – 4.50 bWin

Aston Villa V Wolves

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 19th March – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Villa Park

Aston Villa

- The Villains are unbeaten in their previous 17 meetings with Wolves; 13 wins and 4 draws.

- A 1-0 defeat of Manchester City at Villa Park on 22 Jan is Aston Villa’s one and only clean sheet in their last 19 league matches.

- Villa boss Gerard Houllier hopes to have defensive duo Carlos Cuellar and James Collins back for Saturday’s clash with Wolves, although Luke Young is doubtful while Richard Dunne is unlikely to feature again until April.

Fans were left enraged when Villa manager Gerard Houllier thought best to restrict the club’s more talented players to second half cameo roles in their recent FA Cup Fifth Round clash with Manchester City, to which Villa bowed out of the oldest domestic competition with a whimper. The plan from the Frenchman was to protect the general conditioning of his key men ahead of important league fixtures, although his bold idea didn’t come to fruition as next time out the Villains were dispatched by Bolton at The Reebok.

A 3-2 defeat away to Bolton in the league was Villa’s second on the spin following their controversial 3-2 loss to Man City in the FA Cup. The latter reverse was only dubious for one factor and one factor only, Houllier’s bizarre decision to leave out his stars players in arguably the biggest match of the club’s season. The message from the Frenchman was clear, that he doesn’t have full faith in his current crop to stave off relegation, something myself and so many others believe should be a formality.

It would be fair to say that Houllier’s relationship with the Villa supporters isn’t an harmonious one, so it’s imperative that the French tactician plots someone’s downfall sooner rather than later. The latter point rings further true when you have a quick glance at the Barclay’s Premier League table and see that Aston Villa are now languishing in 13th, just two-points above the relegation zone and only six-points shy of rock-bottom Wigan.

Fortunately for both Gerard Houllier and the Villa fans, their team has a formidable record against this weekend’s opponents having gone their last seventeen meetings with Wolves without losing. Houllier in particular will have fond memories of the Molineux outfit as that was where his first Premier League victory came as Aston Villa boss, when goals from Stewart Downing and Emile Heskey sealed a 2-1 victory in the Midlands derby back on 26 Sep.

Wolves

- Defeat for Wolves could result in another spell at the foot of the table, though the Midlands club are currently unbeaten in their last three league games; 1 win and 2 draws.

- Wolves have now racked up 7 goals in their last two matches, although all 7 came at Molineux.

- Since the start of the 2010/2011 Premier League, Wolves have recorded only one away win from 13 and have won just one of their last 17 on the road in total.

- Mick McCarthy should have defender Ronald Zubar and David Jones fit although Noel Hunt and Michael Kightly may have to settle for a place on the Wolves bench at best, that is providing they recover in time from calf and knee problems respectively.

Second-from-bottom and in need of some inspiration, Wolves need only take a cheeky peek at their recent form for motivation ahead of Saturday’s eagerly anticipated clash with neighbours Aston Villa. To be honest, there are plenty of motivational pieces from a Wolves perspective, like the fact they’ve not beaten their local rivals in seventeen games in all competitions, or the simple fact that Villa beat them 2-1 at Molineux earlier in the season and are now on the verge of doing the double over them.

Back to my original regarding Wolves’ form, Mick McCarthy saw his side extend their unbeaten run in the Premiership to three matches two weeks ago. Their latest result, even though it isn’t really all that recent what with the schedule for league fixtures a sheer mess at the minute, was a thoroughly entertaining 3-3 draw with high-flyers Tottenham.

It wasn’t simple a case of savouring a well-earned point against one of the most talented sides in the country a fortnight ago, it was that Wolves kept pace with a free-scoring Spurs and that they had the courage and tenacity to claw back two deficits – a fantastic sight for their manager Mick McCarthy, who knows full well the importance of dressing room spirit when you’re down in the midst of a fight for survival. However, it could and perhaps should have been more had it not been for some dreadful officiating.

Wolves now have a platform upon which to mount a push for survival, with the Midlanders now unbeaten in their last three league contests but also having notched up seven goals in their previous two matches. What was also pleasing was the return of strikers Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher to the goal trail, with the former grabbing two against Spurs. And with the Villains having kept only one clean sheet in their last 15 league games, they’ll be sniffing out more scoring spoils this weekend in a match Wolves must get something from if they’re to avoid the possibility of spending the following week bottom of the Premier League.

Match Prediction: Aston Villa to WIN – 1.91 WilliamHill

The fact neither are renowned for keeping clean sheets – Villa one in their last 19 league games, Wolves one in 15 – should mean we get an enjoyable contest at Villa Park, which is where the Villains have reigned supreme in this fixture in eight of the last nine meetings.

Their respective forms, however, are contrasting, with Villa licking their wounds after quick-fire defeats, conceding 3 goals in both matches, while Wolves are looking upwards after collecting five points from their previous three league assignments, scoring seven in their last two. So Wolves are the stand-out bet at the odds, but I cannot take my eyes off Aston Villa’s price quote of just under evens. Villa Park is generally where we’ve seen some of their best football this season, where they’ve won six of their eight league victories, and where they spanked Blackburn 4-1 in their most recent home encounter.

As spirited and tenacious as Wolves are, the technical ability of the Villains should be too much for Wolves at Villa Park.

Value Bet: Both Teams to Score – 1.80 Totesport

Match Odds:

Aston Villa – 1.91 WilliamHill
Draw – 3.60 StanJames
Wolves – 4.65 bWin

Bolton Wanderers V Aston Villa

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 5th March – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: The Reebok

Bolton Wanderers

Having lost just one of their last seven games, there’s an argument that Bolton Wanderers’ supporters are being spoilt rotten at the minute. Usually around this time of year fans are gearing up for several relegation six-pointers, must-win clashes with the likes of Wolves and Wigan, instead they’re licking their lips at the prospect of not only a return to Europe but also a club-first trip to the new Wembley stadium. Something tells me that their manager may well be nominated for Manager of the Year come the end of the season.

Of course, there is every chance of an anti-climatic finish to the season. But there’s little room for negativity around Lancashire at the minute, not with Bolton performing so well and beginning to build up ahead of steam. Their 1-1 draw with Newcastle last weekend, a game they probably ought to have won considering they had a numerical advantage for much of the season half, stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to four, and guess who popped up with Bolton’s only goal of the game, again… Chelsea’s on loan striker Daniel Sturridge, who has now scored in all four league appearances for the Trotters, a run he will be champing at the bit to try and extend this weekend.

In the league, Coyle’s men are within a solitary point of sixth-placed Liverpool, who occupy one of two Europa League qualifying berths. The Reds aren’t involved until 24 hours later, when they tackle leaders United at Anfield, so there’s a chance for Bolton here to really apply some pressure, possibly even edge ahead of the Reds should Dalglish’s men slip-up on Merseyside, which is a possibility.

Then there’s the FA Cup, where Bolton will come face-to-face with the newly crowned Carling Cup champions, Birmingham City, in the Sixth Round. Reign supreme in that battle of wits and Owen Coyle will lead his team out at Wembley for the semi-finals – what will be one of his and the club’s proudest ever moments.

So it’s exciting times if you’re a Bolton supporter. Let’s hope the players don’t begin to get carried away with all the euphoria surrounding an exciting period of the season and actually put all this positive aurora floating around to good affect.

Aston Villa

Following their feeble display in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup in midweek, Villa fans feel they deserve an explanation from manager Gerard Houllier as to why he felt it was necessary to ring the changes at Eastlands, all but forfeiting the competition altogether in naming a weakened team for a tie which was already formidable. The Frenchman made eight changes to his starting XI from the team which comprehensively beat Blackburn Rovers 4-1 last weekend, including the likes of Ashley Young, Stewart Downing, Marc Albrighton and Darren Bent, a bold decision which didn’t go down at all well with the supporters, who are growing tiresome of Houllier’s brash and abrasive decision-making.

It would appear as though Houllier was playing the percentages, with the Frenchman claiming after the game that he didn’t feel whatever team he named would be good enough to beat Manchester City at Eastlands because so many have played far too many games this season, and even claimed he would do something similar again in the future without a moment’s hesitation. Those comments are a little ironic really, as the little faith Houllier has in his own team mirrors that of the supporters who believe Houllier should have been dumped months ago.

I, along with many others, genuinely believe this Villa team are too good to go down, but I suppose Houllier isn’t willing to take any chances. He will definitely feel a sense of vindication should his troops come good for him at the weekend and record a win over Bolton at The Reebok, where Villa haven’t been beaten in their previous seven visits. However, were they to lose then it would be a different story altogether, as the Villa fans have hardly needed an excuse this season to get on Houllier’s case.

The positives for Villa fans is that their main men are all fit and will be fresh for their midweek omittence, while there are a number beginning to reach top-form. Ashley Young and Stewart Downing were superb a week ago, the two single-handily destroying Blackburn at Villa Park in what was arguably their most accomplished team performance under Houllier thus far. Furthermore, the Villains are now unbeaten in their last three league matches.  

 - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

FORM & STATISTICS

Bolton Wanderers

Last 5 Matches

Premier League: Newcastle 1-1 Bolton
FA Cup: Fulham 0-1 Bolton
FA Cup: Wigan 0-1 Bolton
Premier League: Bolton 2-0 Everton
Premier League: Tottenham 2-1 Bolton

2010/2011 League Statistics

League Position: 7th
Win-Draw-Lose: 9-10-9 (Home: 7-5-2)
Goal Difference: 39-38 (Home: 25-17)
Form: LWLWD (Home: WDLWW)
Top Scorer: Johan Elmander (9)

- Owen Coyle’s men are without defeat in their last four games, a run which includes three wins, all of which were without conceding a single goal.

- Bolton have lost just one of their previous seven matches in all competitions.

- Daniel Sturridge, on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season, has scored in every appearance he has made for Bolton in the Premier League (3).

Aston Villa

FA Cup: Man City 3-0 Aston Villa
Premier League: Aston Villa 4-1 Blackburn
Premier League: Blackpool 1-1 Aston Villa
Premier League: Aston Villa 2-2 Fulham
Premier League: Man Utd 3-1 Aston Villa

2010/2011 League Statistics

League Position: 12th
Win-Draw-Lose: 8-9-11 (Away: 2-4-8)
Goal Difference: 35-47 (Away: 13-31)
Form: WLDDW (Away: DDWLD)
Top Scorer: Ashley Young & Stewart Downing (6)

 - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Premier League

Bolton wins: 4
Draws: 9
Aston Villa wins: 10

Recent Meetings (Premier League ONLY)

2010/2011: Aston Villa 1-1 Bolton
2009/2010: Bolton 0-1 Aston Villa
2009/2010: Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton
2008/2009: Bolton 1-1 Aston Villa
2008/2009: Aston Villa 4-2 Bolton
2007/2008: Aston Villa 4-0 Bolton
2007/2008: Bolton 1-1 Aston Villa
2006/2007: Bolton 2-2 Aston Villa
2006/2007: Aston Villa 0-1 Bolton

- In the previous seven league meetings at The Reebok, Bolton have failed to win any, drawing two and losing five.

- Bolton’s overall record against Villa at home in the Premier League reads W2 D6 L4.

- Villa midfielder Ashley Young has scored on his last two appearances at The Reebok, having scored five times in total against Bolton in the Premier League.

- Meanwhile Bolton’s Kevin Davies has five goals for Bolton against Aston Villa.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

Betting Odds & Tips

Match Odds:

Bolton Wanderers – 2.30 Betfred
Draw – 3.30 VictorChandler
Aston Villa – 3.40 totesport

More information:
Betting Soccer

Blackpool V Aston Villa

Saturday, 12th February – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Bloomfield Road

The last time these two clashed in the Premier League, controversy ensued. Aston Villa beat a second-string Blackpool side 3-2 at Villa Park in a match the FA decided was worthy of an investigation into Blackpool manager Ian Holloway’s team selection. The Tangerine boss was later fined for fielding a ‘weakened team’ to which Holloway later handed in his resignation, believing the FA had no right to get involved in matters which did not directly concern them, only for the club’s chairman, Karl Oyston, to reject his letter of resignation. Surely we’re in for a smoother ride second time around? Although, when is that ever the case when Blackpool are involved?

For entertainment’s sake, Blackpool have been a priceless edition to the Premier League. However, their sheer existence as a top-flight outfit has suddenly come under immediate threat and they face another uphill task squeezing points out of this fixture with an Aston Villa side who have shown mass amounts of improvement of late. The two sides sit side-by-side in the league but are heading in opposite directions, which is why the bookies have once again slammed the underdog status on the Tangerines.

Blackpool + Underdog status has usually = Jackpot! Is the Seaside novelty beginning to wear thin?

Match Odds:

Blackpool – 3.40 Coral
Draw – 3.60 VictorChandler
Aston Villa – 2.25 SkyBet

Blackpool

At Christmas, with the Tangerines enjoying all the plaudits as they settled into the top half of the league, fans were even speculating that Blackpool could be plying their trade in Europe next season. Barely a month later and those same supporters have been forced to backtrack on their expectations and demands from a team which has been overachieving all season but has quickly found out from a first-hand perspective just how brutal the Barclay’s Premier League can be.

For most sides, if you can muster three goals in any one match away from home then you’re almost guaranteed all three points, one at the bare minimum. Blackpool are the exception it would seem, as their all-out attacking attitude, the same principles which has seen them record many a stunning victory in the Premier League and also score bags of goals, is showing all the tell-tale signs of coming back to bite them on the backside.

After their 5-3 defeat at Everton last Saturday, Blackpool now post their leakiest defence in the entire top-flight, conceding on average two-goals-per-game. The fact they score goals on a regular basis is becoming obsolete so long as they continue to ship goals in bulk. Since the beginning of the year, Blackpool have contested eight top-flight fixtures. Nine goals were scored by the adventurous Tangerines. 20, however, was the number their opponents have amassed in the same number of matches. And even more alarming is the fact seven of those eight league games ended with Blackpool failing to register a single point.

Their fall from grace has been emphatic, with Ian Holloway now manager of a side which has lost five top-flight fixtures on the spin, seven of its last eight. Now we’re all wondering where on earth their next win is going to come from. It isn’t as though they have home comforts to fall back on, as just three of their eight league victories this season have come at Bloomfield Road, where they’ve now lost three on the trot and haven’t kept a clean sheet all season.

Aston Villa

In a bid to dampen the hostility between himself, his opposite number and his rival supporters, Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier had only kind words to say of Blackpool manager Ian Holloway ahead of their weekend clash at Bloomfield Road. Villa’s attempts at bringing Holloway’s skipper, Charlie Adam, to Villa Park was described as insulting by the Tangerine boss, with a war of words later ensuing. However, Houllier believes his adversary has done a tremendous job under testing circumstances, complimenting the Seasider’s on their courageous attitudes when it comes to playing on the front foot and in a positive manner, and has even gone as far as to say he doesn’t think Blackpool will go down at the end of the season.

As far as his own team is concerned, Houllier will be eager to guide the Villains to only their third league win of 2011 when he leads them into battle with struggling Blackpool, though the club have made some notable inroads in the FA Cup, where they will play either Man City or Notts County in the Fifth Round. The former Lyon & Liverpool manager hasn’t endured a smooth ride as Villa manager since taking over the reins back in September 2010 but has received backing from the club’s owner, Randy Lerner, in the form of funds to bring in the necessary personnel to protect the club’s Premier League status, a status which was, and still it to some degree, under threat.

With Villa this season it has been a case of one step forward and two steps back. Back-to-back wins at the end of January had given fans hope that the team would now push on and perhaps begin a late assault on the European places, a top-ten finish at the minimum. However, February hasn’t gone to plan so far and after a 3-1 loss away at Manchester United was compounded by a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to a battling Fulham, Villa still find themselves in an unsavoury battle for survival. Defeat in Blackpool this weekend would see them slide further down the table, while there’s even the possibility of a return to the relegation zone should those in close proximity secure sought-after victories as the gap between them and the bottom three only stands at three points. Plus, Villa have played a game more then most at the bottom.

Houllier doesn’t have any fresh injuries although will be excited at the prospect of seeing Ashley Young and Darren Bent in action. The pair stole the show during the week as England secured an impressive 2-1 victory over in Denmark, with Bent drawing the Three Lions levels before Young scored a well-taken winner after bursting onto the scene as a substitute. Both earned rave reviews in the morning newspaper and will arrive at Bloomfield Road in buoyant mood. Just as well, as Villa have only won twice away from home all season (W2 D3 L8).

——————————————-

Recent Form (Last 5)

Blackpool

Premiership: Everton 5-3 Blackpool
Premiership: Blackpool 1-3 West Ham
Premiership: Blackpool 2-3 Manchester United
Premiership: Blackpool 1-2 Sunderland
Premiership: West Brom 3-2 Blackpool

Aston Villa

Premiership: Aston Villa 2-2 Fulham
Premiership: Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa
FA Cup: Aston Villa 3-1 Blackburn Rovers
Premiership: Wigan Athletic 1-2 Aston Villa
Premiership: Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City

——————————————-

2010/2011 Premiership Statistics

Blackpool

League Position: 15th
Win-Draw-Lose: 8-4-13 (Home: 3-2-6)
Goal Difference: 38-49 (Home: 18-22)
Form: LLLLL (Home: LWLLL)
Top Scorer: DJ Campbell (8)

Aston Villa

League Position: 14th
Win-Draw-Lose: 7-8-11 (Away: 2-3-8)
Goal Difference: 30-45 (Away: 12-30)
Form: DWWLD (Away: LDDWL)
Top Scorer: Darren Bent (9)

——————————————-

Head-to-Head (Premiership: Last 5 Seasons)

2010/2011: Aston Villa 3-2 Blackpool

——————————————-

Aston Villa V Sunderland

Wednesday, 24^th March – 19:45 GMT

Aston Villa

League Position: 7th

Recent Form: DWDWD

Martin O’Neill endured a miserable weekend with his Aston Villa players, with a measly draw at home to locals Wolves providing the team with a fresh setback. With this race for fourth really hotting up, and the likes of Tottenham and Man City showing no signs of letting up, Villa really do need to show more consistency in both their play and their results before this elusive fourth positions gets away from them.

Villa have been given another chance though, this time in the form of a home fixture with Sunderland. Their opponents are beginning to build up ahead of esteem, which is dangerous for Aston Villa, but Villa boast some noteworthy form of their own after going nine games unbeaten in the league after that unattractive 2-2 draw with Wolves at the weekend, whilst they have tasted defeat at home since their unfortunate 1-0 defeat to Liverpool back in December, six home fixtures ago. The aim on Wednesday will be to extend that unbeaten run to 10, but to do so with a win and not a disappointing, solitary point.

O’Neill should be fairly confident over his charges chances on Wednesday night, after all they did beat Sunderland 2-0 at The Stadium of Light in the reverse fixture in December. Moreover, Villa have won three of the last four meetings between the two sides at Villa Park, which goes hand-in-hand with Villa’s recent vein of form in front of goal at home having scored seven in their last two games making Villa seem a more attractive proposition. That is until memories of their 2-2 draw with Wolves begin to creep in and the doubts set in once more.

To be brutally honest, we thought Villa were completely outplayed last Saturday in a contest they should have won comfortably on paper. Villa lacked the hunger and drive needed in a local derby, while Villa weren’t as sharp in the final third like their usual selves. In fact, it took two controversial goals from John Carew, a striker whom has been reduced to bench appearances for Villa of late, to spare Villa’s blushes. You would like to think that was a blip but their recent form at home would suggest otherwise – PL:6 W:1 D:4 L:1.

Sunderland

League Position: 13th

Recent Form: LDWDW

Steve Bruce will have been ecstatic with his teams display in their most recent encounter; the 3-1 victory at home to Birmingham City. In what was a thrilling, end-to-end encounter, Sunderland overpowered their mid-table rivals to secure all three points for just the second time this year, while Sunderland’s recent run of four league games without defeat should boost the morale within camp as Sunderland set out to steer the ‘Brucey’ ship away from uncharted waters.

Their 3-1 win on Saturday enabled Sunderland to take a big jump away from the relegation zone, and surely that should do it for them now in terms of securing their Premiership status for at least another year. The Black Cats have now put 10 points between themselves and the drop zone which should be enough considering Sunderland have the quality within their ranks to win games, unlike most of the teams below them. Now that survival should be a given; Steve Bruce will be looking at a top ten finish, with Fulham in 10^th now just four points above Sunderland in the table.  

The star man on Saturday was an English forward, although you’d be forgiven for forgetting that little fact as he’s yet to play under the Fabio Capello reign. Darren Bent, a former Tottenham flop, has been sensational for Sunderland this season, by far and away their most influential player now and has netted 20 times for Sunderland in the league in his 30 starts. He’s outscoring all other England strikers bar Wayne Rooney, while he was out scoring two inside six minutes on Saturday as Sunderland stormed towards their second home win in as many games. Pundits alike are now finding a legitimate case for Bent to go to South Africa with the England camp, and we wouldn’t disagree. Without Bent and his valuable goals, Sunderland would be in deep trouble in terms of their league position, while it doesn’t even bare thinking about how many points less Sunderland would have had Steve Bruce not signed the Tottenham flop for somewhere in the region of £12Mil – what seemed an incredibly large amount at the beginning of the season.

As we drift back to Sunderland the team, their form is great like we said above, ‘Unbeaten in four’. However, all four were at The Stadium of Light, with this trip to Villa Park being their first away day out in over a month. That’s a long time to go without any away day experience so the Sunderland players might be forgiven for being a tad homesick, while this could quite easily be the case judging by their away form this season of just 1 win in 14. Moreover, Sunderland haven’t won an away fixture in the Premier League for seven months – 13 games without a win – while they unwillingly possess a 71% losing ratio on the road.

Match Verdict: Aston Villa to WIN – 1.57 SkyBet

Sunderland have spent far too long in the comfort of their own home to realistically ask them to travel to Villa Park and obliterate Villa’s five game unbeaten run at home. So the preference is for an Aston Villa side who desperately need to start showing their Champions League worth. Drop more points tonight and we would safely say Villa would no longer be in the running. It’s now a time in the season were form is key and momentum is paramount, so for Villa so lay claim to a fourth placed finish they would need to buck up their ideas, fast, starting with this home fixture with Sunderland. We reckon they’ll do it, whether it will be comfortable is another question. We think it will be tight, while goals from both sides should be expected.

Match Odds:

Aston Villa – 1.57 SkyBet

Draw – 4.00 VCbet

Sunderland – 7.00 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Pick: Over 3.5 Goals (4 Goals or More) – 3.20 Boylesports

Carling Cup Final

Aston Villa V Manchester United

Sunday, 28^th February – 15:00 GMT(LIVE on BBC1)

Introduction

This isn’t a competition most clubs in England stick at the very top of their list of priorities for the season, more right at the very bottom in fact. However, it is still a momentous occasion, especially for Aston Villa, whom will be making their first appearance in a domestic cup final for the first time in nearly a decade, with their previous final appearance being a losing one in the 1999-2000 FA Cup final back at the old Wembley. However, you have to cast your minds back ever further for Villa’s last taste of cup success, back in 1996 when Aston Villa won this very competition beating Leeds United 3-0 in the final. Their opponents, however, Manchester United, need only stretch back a single year for their last piece of silverware, that being the Carling Cup as well as they beat Tottenham Hotspur via a penalty shoot-out last season.

The one defining factor every finalist needs is passion, and perhaps experience could be thrown into the equation as well, and while United certainly have bags of the latter, we feel Villa will have far more passion seeing as finals don’t crop all too often for them, very rarely in fact, so you’d have to feel they’ll have more hunger in their souls than their ready-made final opponents, Manchester United. Don’t be fooled into thinking United won’t be fired up to win on Sunday though, as the Mighty Red Devils rarely turn up to a final without that burning desire to complete a memorable cup run with a final victory.

Injuries to big stars in the United camp has levelled the playing field somewhat as Villa, despite picking up four points from their two meetings with Manchester United in the league this season, do have the weaker squad of the two. However, this Aston Villa side have shown on more than one occasion this season that they can be the real deal and that on their day they have the ability to beat anyone, regardless of their more glamour reputation. The problem is, however, very few in that Aston Villa squad have previous final experiences, which is crucial in a Wembley environment which can be a graveyard for young souls. It’s also a venue where stars are born, and with Villa boasting some of the country’s brightest talents, perhaps this is the scene of a beautiful Martin O’Neill masterpiece and the setting for a big future for some of Villa’s young hopefuls.

For Manchester United, this will just be one of many titles to brace the United trophy cabinet. That doesn’t mean they don’t give a care in the world about winning Sunday’s finale, as that’s far from the truth. In fact, they will be the favourites to snatch the Carling Cup crown from under Aston Villa’s noses as their team packs plenty of experience, maturity, quality and class. They also possess a starlet in the form of his life in Wayne Rooney. The England forwards displays this season has seen him rise through the ranks and join the likes of Ronaldo & Messi as some of the worlds greatest players. He’s in the form of his life at present and was the figurehead behind United’s two-legged victory over arch rivals Manchester City in the previous round. Can he steal the show on Sunday, stamp his mark on the sport from a worldwide perspective, or will he falter in United’s biggest game thus far and hand the initiative to one of Villa’s many rising stars? So many questions, all of which being asked by fans, pundits and punters alike, but the only way to find the answers is to watch Sunday’s final LIVE on the BBC from 02:00 GMT.

 ——————————————————

Aston Villa

Recommended Bet: To Score Two or More – 3.75 PaddyPower

Aston Villa football club has such a bright future but it’s all about fulfilling their potential and not crumbling in pressure-cooker moments. Last season, Villa were pushing for a top four finish after a strong run of form in the middle part of the season but fell apart in the latter stages of the season to finish well off Arsenal who eventually snapped up fourth place. Villa shown last season that they didn’t have the maturity nor the experience to keep their cool in their crucial games, but, nearly a year on, can Villa keep their composure in what is their first major final for almost fifteen years?

While finishing in fourth spot is their main prerogative this season, victory in the Carling Cup will certainly be up there now they’ve gotten this far. However, this is one of three objectives Villa are going all out to achieve and you would be forgiven for thinking Villa will become overwhelmed, exhausted and possibly distracted as their minds are concentrating on so many competitions and big fixtures. In Martin O’Neill, though, you have a focused man, a manager who knows how to get the very best out of this crop of potential stars and we have no doubt he will have this Aston Villa side fired up for this huge final encounter as O’Neill and the rest of the Villa squad aim to give their fans their first loyalty deposit bonus for their support down the years. 

Just like their final opponents, Manchester United, Aston Villa preparations ahead of the Wembley show-piece on Sunday have gone to plan and were boosted significantly with progression in the FA Cup. Villa were held to a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace but finished the job at home with a 3-1 win. Those in Claret & Blue that are travelling to Wembley on Sunday will be hoping their goalscoring antics on Wednesday was a taster of things to come as they, as well as everyone else, know Villa need to score a few if they want to put United to the sword and lift the Carling Cup at somewhere around tea-time.  

Goals really should be a given though, considering the vast amounts of attacking quality Martin O’Neill has at his disposal, of which every single one of his star-studded forwards are playing sensational right now. James Milner & Ashley Young will look to make marauding runs down the flanks, with the aim being to supply their bulky forwards with some decent aerial balls. John Carew, whom scored twice in the FA Cup replay in midweek, Emile Heskey & Gabriel Agbonlahor, will all pose an understrength United defence all sorts of problems with their aerial prowess, strength and pace. The latter, Agbonlahor, will scare the United defence the most, not only because of his blistering pace and slick finishing but also because it was him who scored Villa’s winner in the 1-0 victory at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

Aston Villa fans, whom won’t be used to trips to Wembey, will be hoping Agbonlahor will be their saviour once again and a nightmare for Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United, although, we’re pretty sure they don’t care who scores on Sunday just as long as it’s the match winner.

Manchester United

Recommended Bet: Wayne Rooney to Score within 90 minutes – 2.40 PaddyPower

The Carling Cup, or the League Cup as it sometimes referred to, is about the only trophy Manchester United haven’t won as many times as any other English team. Their tally of just three League Cup wins puts them behind the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and even Nottingham Forest, which just goes to show how insignificant the Carling Cup has been to United in recent years. However, their bright youngsters got them through some sticky openers, whilst the professionals, or their idols if you like, finished the job by ensuring the club booked their rightful place at Wembley for this Carling Cup final showdown with Aston Villa after coming through a two-legged Semi-Final cracker with Manchester City.

Manchester United, arguably the most glamorous team in England, will be gunning for yet more silverware, what could be one of many this season as they seek out their first ever back-to-back Carling Cup success. Sir Alex Ferguson, whom has lifted the trophy twice as the United manager, guided United to their second Carling Cup title in four seasons when beating Tottenham Hotspur in an enticing encounter at Wembley last season. Their opponents this year, Aston Villa, aren’t a whole lot dissimilar to the Tottenham team they faced nearly a year to the day ago.

United’s preparations ahead of this final showdown have gone to plan, with Ferguson’s side wiping their two game run without a league win swiftly under the carpet with a routine 3-0 victory over West Ham in midweek. It was an important win as not only did it provide them with three huge points in their title chasing cause but it also gave the dressing room a much needed winning morale boost after two shabby performances in the league beforehand. When you head into a game of this magnitude, a match where so much is at stake, well, some silverware anyway, you need some positive momentum to spearhead you into such a fixture. You also need your players on top of their game, on top form and in tip-top shape, and while United might have the first two with Wayne Rooney bang inform right now, the latter is something they don’t have the luxury of with some of their key players, unfortunately.

Alex Ferguson will be without a few key individuals for Sunday’s final, none more so than club captain Ryan Giggs, whom despite playing an instrumental part in United getting this far won’t be available due to breaking his wrist, ironically in a league game with Aston Villa earlier in the month. John O’Shea is of course out for some time, whereas Owen Hargreaves is no nearer to a first-time appearance. However, the questions are building up around the fitness of Rio Ferdinand, whom hasn’t featured a whole lot for United this season and was ruled out of the final through a recurrence of the back problem he’s been suffering all season. While Nemajna Vidic will look to be United’s rock on Sunday, the void left by Rio could be huge what with Villa possessing some very tricky forward customers. Jonny Evans will be Ferguson’s preferred centre back partner for Vidic but Evans has been found wanting on far too many occasions for United, especially in the big games, so naturally there will be doubts over not only his own respective performance but that of the Manchester United defence as a whole.

  ——————————————————

Our Prediction: Aston Villa to WIN – 4.80 VCbet

How Manchester United are that short in price (1.87 totesport) is beyond me as Villa have been a constant thorn in United’s side this season, with the Reds’ failing in their bids to beat Aston Villa twice already this season, so why the odds on Villa completing a hat-trick are so big is bewildering.

We suppose it’s down to United’s two impressive wins on the trot; the 3-2 win at the San Siro against AC Milan, of which Wayne Rooney scored twice, as well as the 3-0 win at home to West Ham United on Tuesday, and well, Wayne Rooney was once again seen scoring a brace. England’s biggest hope this summer has been in scintillating form for the Red Devils this season and is arguably the only reason why Man Utd are a touch of odds-on to win within 90 minutes on Sunday. After all, it was the man of the moment, Rooney, who scored United’s winner in the Semi-Final with Man City, so do the bookies think lightening will strike twice, only this time at Wembley on Sunday.

Whereas United are heavily relying on the performance of one man, Villa have a whole host of players who can not only bring their A-game to Sunday’s final but could also win this game single-handily with one swift kick of the ball. The amount of creativity Villa will have on show is staggering; with James Milner, Ashley Young and a bang-in-form Stewart Downing all looking to upset the odds by carving open the United defence with some mazy runs, slickly through balls and some whizzing shots on goal. Moreover, we haven’t even mentioned the strength of their forward line, with Agbonlahor, Heskey & Carew all vying for a place on the starting line-up on Sunday, although only two will start from the off as O’Neill looks to pack that Villa midfield with hard-working, creative players.

Nevertheless, Villa look by far and away the best shout here, although you can never discount Manchester United. Still, at the prices you would have to consider Aston Villa as immense value (4.80 VCbet) but this final does have the makings of a tight fixture so Extra-Time could beckon.

 ——————————————————

Our Bet: Over 2.5 Goals – 2.00 Bet365

Finals often tend to be dull affairs because neither side wants to take any risks in case they concede a silly goal. However, we don’t expect either manager to leave a lot to the imagination, especially Martin O’Neill who will surely start with a very attacking minded side, filled to brim with creative midfielder and forward thinking players. Villa won’t hold back with their attempts on goal and an early strike from them would strike the touchpaper on what we feel will be a change in the wind as an entertaining final finally embraces our screens. Let’s not stop there though as Manchester United are more than capable of popping up with a few and are actually the favourites to land the first blow (To Score First 1.67 BetFred). Wayne Rooney is a man possessed right now, with his form sky-rocketing this season, with just about every defence failing to keep the Premiership’s leading goalscorer out. Villa have though, twice in fact, so perhaps Aston Villa are Rooney’s, and United’s for that matter, nemesis.

Goals for us, plenty of them if you would be so kind, in what should be a rip-roaring affair… Cue the 0-0 stalemate!

  ——————————————————

Match Odds:

Manchester United – 1.87 totesport

Draw – 3.50 Bet365

Aston Villa – 4.80 VCbet

Fulham V Aston Villa

Saturday, 20^th January – 15:00 GMT

Fulham

League Position: 10th

Recent Form: DLLLL

Roy Hodgson has worked wonders since his arrival at Craven Cottage back in December, 2007 in which he has converted Fulham into a mid-table side oppose to the old relegation threatened club they used to be. However, Fulham are going through their worst spell of the season, losing four on the bounce in the league, and Hodgson will need to pull off yet another minor miracle as he attempts to guide Fulham out of this rut. 

Fulham’s fourth league defeat in a row came at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, and while the defeat will have left a sour taste in the fans mouths, the bigger picture is that Fulham aren’t playing the sort of football that seen them settle into the upper half of the table just a month or two ago. The performances have been wayward and with this so has their results. A losing run will always dampen the spirits of any dressing room but it will hurt Fulham more than most as they don’t have the biggest of squads and they have been a team that have thrived on confidence beaming runs this season.  

Some might say only a win will do for Fulham as they aim to end a run of four straight defeats in the league but a draw would be a creditable result considering their opponents are now Carling Cup finalists and a serious top four challenger. However, they will need to improve leaps and bounds if they are to knick a result but, however, we cannot disregard the fact that Fulham’s four league defeats in a row have all been away from their beloved Craven Cottage. A venue they’ve lost just twice at all season. In fact, Fulham haven’t lost a home fixture in the Premiership since late September when they lost 1-0 to Arsenal.  

Fulham’s home form has been very strong this season and stands in at a healthy 6-2-2. They boast some staggering wins over the best in England; beating both Liverpool (3-1) and Man Utd (3-0). However, a four match run without picking up a single point will do some damage, regardless of where they came, and it remains a big ask for Fulham to end their point drought with a win on Saturday. After all, they haven’t a home game since the 19^th of December, although what a win that was; an emphatic 3-0 victory over the league champions, Man Utd. However, Fulham have played a game at the Cottage for over a month, such is the timespan between their last home fixture that they could get lost finding Craven Cottage, let alone turning up and beating Aston Villa.

Aston Villa

League Position: 7th

Recent Form: WLLDD

With the race for fourth really beginning to hot up, Martin O’Neill will be fully aware that his Villa side, after suffering back-to-back defeats from Arsenal & Liverpool, can’t afford to relinquish many more points and so a game against a Fulham side which hasn’t stopped losing is an ideal opportunity to scratch of one of their remaining away fixtures left to play with a win.

Aston Villa only had to wait a month before they had the chance to gain some revenge over Arsenal for their 3-0 defeat at The Emirates a little over a month ago. However, Villa didn’t seize on the opportunity and ended up playing out a 0-0 draw. A game which failed to live up to expectations. However, Villa did have their chances, some clear cut, and could of clinched all three points with some clinical finishing. A draw, though, was a fair result and a good result as that’s one less tough fixture for Villa to play this season.

However, there is a problem arising in that Villa have now gone four games, 360 minutes, without a win in the league. Not since their narrow 1-0 victory at home to Stoke City have Villa celebrated a Premiership win, going a month and then some without a league victory. Such a run has the potential to damage any clubs chances of reaching their respective goal and it’s a time when they Villa players need to show plenty of character and maturity. The latter, however, is an attribute Villa have lacked at times but they will need some wise heads for them to end their baron run at Craven Cottage – A venue they haven’t won at in their last five visits.

Villa don’t have very good record at Craven Cottage having not won their since their 2-1 victory in 2004. However, times have changed and Villa do have far more talent on show than their London opponents, The problem being that Fulham have improved immensely in such a short space of time and have rapidly become an awkward opponent on their own soil. We said earlier that a draw would probably satisfy Fulham and the same could be said for Villa because getting a win would require a lot of hard work and perhaps a slice of good fortune.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

We think this will be a stalemate between two sides who have recently gone off the boil. Villa outshine their opponents in the quality department but Fulham’s record at Craven Cottage this seasin is too strong to simply ignore and so a draw is the safest bet to what is a tough game to predict. What’s more, neither manager would begrudge a share of the spoils before kick-off considering their recent slumps in form.

Match Odds:

Fulham – 2.80 PaddyPower

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Aston Villa – 2.88 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Pick: 0-0 Correct Score – 9.50 SkyBet

Aston Villa V Hull City

Kick-off: Saturday 5^th December – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Villa Park

Aston Villa

League Position: 6th

Recent Form: DLWDD

Martin O’Neill will set out to guide his Villa troopers back to winning ways after a poor couple of months where wins have been at a premium. The 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham on Saturday has meant that Villa have won just two of their last nine games in the league and are leaving themselves open to a surprise result after a series of successive 1-1 draws.

In their last nine league outings, Villa have drawn five, all of which have been by a 1-1 scoreline. Saturday’s encounter with Tottenham Hotspur ended in the exact same manner and that result in accordance with the poor showing, will have surely left Martin O’Neill at least a tad concerned over what is still a fairly young and inexperienced Aston Villa side.

On Saturday, against Spurs, Villa were extremely poor. We expected a big performance from Villa, especially after claiming the scalps of both Liverpool & Chelsea early on in the season, but that certainly wasn’t their case. Some would argue that Aston Villa enjoyed the opening 45 minutes, we couldn’t disagree any more, whilst many claimed Tottenham battered Villa in the second half, we couldn’t agree more. Villa were massively disappointing, in both halves, and despite taking an early lead through a scrap Gabriel Agbonlahor goal, Villa, like they did on so many occasions last year, quite simply bottled it! – They allowed Tottenham all the time they wanted on the ball and an entire second half to come at them and attack. Villa showed next to nothing after taking the lead and their negative mindset has had a big impact on our end of preview prediction. 

Villa have won twice as many games at Villa Park, with a record of 4-2-1, whilst they do boast a very impressive goals tally of 13-6. However, although they kept two clean sheets early on in the season against Portsmouth & Fulham, hardly the fiercest of teams in the final third, Villa have failed to keep a clean sheet in their previous four home fixtures – with Man City, Chelsea, Bolton & Tottenham all breaking through the Villa rearguard. Some would say that those are tough home fixtures, which they are, but Villa fans actually think their side are serious top four contenders but to earn that right you need to perform in all aspects of the pitch, with complacency banished from all areas of the pitch. This isn’t so at this moment in time, and their missed opportunity to assert themselves and send out a message to the challengers was passed up on Saturday against Tottenham.

However, we’re sure players and fans alike at Aston Villa couldn’t of dreamt of an easier fixtures to regain that winning feeling then a home encounter with stragglers, Hull City. Villa did beat Hull 1-0 at Villa Park last season, but Hull did cause the Villa defence a few problems and, although Hull’s offence isn’t looking all that great at the moment, would you really be that comfortable with backing a shaky Aston Villa at as short as 4/9 with some firms?

Hull City

League Position: 7th

Recent Form: LWDWD

Finally, as sighs of relief sound out around Hull, a bit of form to actually brag about. It’s quite unbelievable to think that Hull City, a team which were shaping up as one of the worst to embrace the league this season, are actually unbeaten in four games. Stoke, West Ham, Everton and now even the mighty Man City, haven’t got the better of Hull City in recent weeks and now their resurgence in form has led them to safety, with the Tigers now occupying a more comfortable 15^th position.

Right, impressive form nevertheless, but three of the four games in this sensational run of form for Hull City (don’t mind us getting too carried away), were at home, The KC stadium. Just the 1-1 draw at The City of Manchester is their only away conquest in this mini unbeaten run, but even that point away at Man City was mighty impressive considering the millions that has been spent on the Man City ranks compared to those currently at Hull. Jimmy Bullard, a player who signed for a relatively large sum of cash in Hull’s world, scored a clinical and emphatic penalty to secure at a point and that draw has to have boosted the Hull ranks heading into yet another extremely tough away fixture.

However, in general, Hull’s away form this season has been dire. In seven away outings thus far, only twice have Hull be able to avoid defeat, losing five and drawing two. Their two draws came at Man City (1-1) and Wolves (1-1), whilst; Chelsea (2-1), Sunderland (4-1), Liverpool (6-1), Fulham (2-0) and Burnley (2-0), have all beaten a homesick Hull City. Some of those defeats have been heavy, with Hull’s away defensive record a scary sight at 5-18. They haven’t yet kept a clean sheet on the road, that doesn’t look all too likely to happen this Saturday, while only Wolves & Man City have failed to score more then once against Hull. They’re shipping nearly three goals a game on their travels, which will be music to the ears of Villa fans.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Aston Villa W: 2 Hull City W: 0 Draws: 0

It was Villa who prospered in both encounters last season, winning at both Villa Park & The KC, both by a 1-0 scoreline. A usually dangerous Villa front-line was limited to just a single goal in both meetings last season, although, Villa manage to keep Hull at arms length, failing to concede against the Tigers in the two meetings.

John Carew scored in the home encounter, at Villa Park, while a Zayette goal separated the two at The KC stadium, with Zayette receiving a yellow card both home and away against Aston Villa last term.

Match Verdict:- Draw – 4.50 Expekt

The statistics and form don’t back up a potential Villa shock but Villa are still given off signals that they aren’t ready for the big time, not yet anyway. At a best priced ½ with Boylesports, we can’t be backing a still very young Villa squad at that price. The draw is of more value in a game that Villa definitely have to win but are by no means a banker. This could turn into a horror show for me but I’m taking Hull’s point at Man City as a sign of things to come from Hull, possibly. Their defence was a lot more tidier, they put more effort into their attacks, and, although their point did come via a penalty kick, that win will have only boosted what should be a buoyant Hull camp at present. We’re on the draw, for value sake.

Match Odds:

Aston Villa – 1.50 SkyBet

Draw – 4.50 Expekt

Hull City – 7.50 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: Under 2.5 Goals – 2.20 SkyBet