*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
It is April and Aston Villa haven’t taken a single point from a Premier League game in which they’ve conceded the opening goal. That’s the negative spin and I enjoy it.
However, while that gives us an insight into just how Dean Smith and John Terry plan these games, it also doesn’t quite provide a segue into the fact that Villa are just five points off last year’s champions with a game in hand – and that Smith himself is second only to Pep Guardiola in the Manager of the Year gong in this writer’s opinion.
You know full-well that’s sincere too as I’ve family in Ladywood, Bordesley Green and have a tattoo of Nikola Zigic on my back. Two of those three statements are true.
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Fulham? We’re approaching the stage now where points may not be enough as Newcastle’s run of games will ultimately see them play teams who’ve little to motivate them and even a couple of wins there should see Scott Parker in huge trouble.
This game is incredibly winnable in the grand scheme of things, but will they pull it off? Here’s three bets that land you in the money, land Villa in clover and land Scott Parker in prison for continued crimes against fashion.
Sunday 4.30pm: Aston Villa v Fulham
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Safe Bet: Aston Villa to Win
Fulham were playing well leading up to the international break but ultimately it came at the wrong time for them. Yes, you can argue that consecutive losses weren’t ideal, but they deserved more against Leeds and the score line against Manchester City wasn’t a fair reflection.
Now, they’re in reset and I often think that momentum decides relegation scraps. Villa will be glad of the break, conversely, as they’d gone four without a win – including a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United. All things now equal again, I fully anticipate a comfortable Aston Villa win.
Value Punt: Villa (-1)
Villa have kept a clean sheet in each of their last nine wins. In fact, they’ve done so in 11 of their 12 victories this year.
It gives them a terrific platform, but late in the season, they’re now becoming good value to rack up the goals on the counter as teams need points and have to pile forward.
Fulham are the perfect contenders to unintentionally massage Villa’s goal difference, as they’re coming off the back of consecutive multiple-goal concessions in the league for just the second time since the first week of December. Villa (-1) could be a smart play.
Long Shot: Bertrand Traore to Score First
Some players have a price about them being a goalscorer because they average a goal every so often. Traore naturally isn’t exempt from same, but very few inconsistent players have the ability he has to absolutely swing a game when he’s on it.
So naturally I’m more drawn to his price because of his eccentric nature – and you know full-well that if he does have a good game, he’s more than likely wreaking havoc.
Fulham are going to have to take risks which leaves Traore, if he plays, one-on-one a lot of the time. He’s equally comfortable on either flank, and I’d expect him to do a job on the weaker of the full-backs. This could be set up for Bertrand Traore to Score First.
Andrew’s tips for Villa v Fulham
Safe Bet: Aston Villa to Win
Value Punt: Villa (-1)
Long Shot: Bertrand Traore to Score First
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
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