Premier League: Villa and Fulham Have it All to Play for!

Aston Villa vs Fulham

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa play hosts to Marco Silva’s Fulham on Saturday for a seventh versus eighth clash in the chase for Europe.

The Cottagers can’t leapfrog the Villans, who sit six points ahead but they can strengthen their case for a European adventure next term, with at least eight Premier League clubs likely to qualify. The hosts are just three points behind fifth placed Chelsea who hold the last Champions League slot, to there’s a whole lot at stake when Premier League: Aston Villa vs Fulham kicks off at 12:30 pm local time. 

The Cottagers come into the game on the back of a 2-1 win away to relegated Southampton, while Villa crashed out of the FA Cup to Crystal Palace, losing the semi-final 3-0. Interestingly, the Eagles beat Fulham by the very same score-line in the FA quarter final… read into that what you will.

This match promises to be a competitive and entertaining clash; the Aston Villa vs Fulham betting odds predict a home win, but by no means a one sided tussle.  

 

Talking Points

League matters for Villa

Just a couple of weeks ago Emery’s side were fighting on three fronts, but while Villa’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain ebbed and flowed, particularly in the second leg, eventually the Parisiens were just too good. And ten days later Villa were out of the FA Cup too. So all that remains from a hugely promising campaign is the Premier League and, with five places to go for, a return to the Champions League could define the Villans’ campaign.

While they have suffered two knockout blows over the past week, Aston Villa have been hugely impressive in the league. They pushed a resurgent Manchester City all the way recently, losing by the odd goal in three and that followed victories over Newcastle United, a 4-1 drubbing of the Geordies, Southampton, another top five rival Nottingham Forest and a dangerous Brighton and Hove Albion.       

Morgan Rogers, with eight goals and eight assists, has had a superb campaign and Ollie Watkins, with 15 goals and seven assists, is one of the most dangerous strikers in the league. Villa will play much of this game on the front foot and with loanee Marcus Rashford out with a hamstring injury, Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen will contest a place in the front line. 

 

Cottagers can live with the best 

Aston Villa have emerged as one of the Premier League’s elite over the past two years and the way they dismantled a strong Newcastle side shows just how good they can be. The hosts will look to dominate possession, but the Cottagers will fancy their chances of hitting them on the break.

While Fulham have recently suffered narrow defeats to Bournemouth and Chelsea, just three weeks ago they beat Champions Liverpool in a five goal thriller which ended the Reds’ 26 match unbeaten run. Alex Iwobi, who has nine goals for the campaign, was on target that day while the returned Ryan Sessegnon also scored as a pre-cursor to his winner against Southampton last weekend. The pace of those two gives Fulham a real threat on a fast transition and with experienced striker Raul Jimenez leading the line the Cottagers always have goals in them.         

Wing back Antonee Robinson has made ten assists, but he is a doubt after he missed the Cottagers’ win over Southampton, but his fellow defender Joachim Anderson is fit and firing and will be looking forward to a battle with the red hot Watkins.  

 

History

With 18 wins to 12 Villa have had the better of the head to head Aston Villa vs Fulham results since 2001 while there have been 11 draws. Indeed the Midlanders have won the last five meetings, including a 3-1 victory at Craven Cottage back in October. 

As we approach the business end of the campaign both Aston Villa and Fulham are searching for consistency with three wins and three losses from the last six games, though Emery’s team has been very strong in the Premier League. 

And Villa have been hard to beat at home this season, winning nine and drawing seven with just a single defeat at Villa Park.

 

Betting Tip

The Villans are at SBOTOP odds of 1.73 to win this clash with the Cottagers at 3.94 and the draw is at 3.39. I can see goals in this one; Villa have scored in every one of their last ten home games against Fulham and the Cottagers too have plenty of firepower. Over 2.75 goals at a price of 2.00 is my alternative bet; but I have a feeling for 2-2 and I’d kick myself if I didn’t back my instinct…if it came off!   

   

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