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It’s a big battle on Saturday, in the race for the Champions League. With all the twists and turns this season has taken in the Premier League, any bit of consistency is greatly rewarded. Both Spurs and Villa are eyeing up that important fourth spot, which rewards with the huge payday of Champions League football next season. Season’s past, this would have been pretty much all settled by now, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool pretty much securing the spots from the outset of the season. But this year has been greatly different. Not only have Spurs, Aston Villa and Manchester City all stepped up their games, the demise of Liverpool has thrown the fourth place wide open.

It is Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham which have been the main benefactors, playing their way into contention. After safely negotiating a tricky FA Cup replay away against Leeds midweek, thanks to hat trick from England striker Jermain Defoe, Spurs will be keen to put some extra space between themselves and one of their main challengers. The two sides produced a 1-1 draw at Villa Park at the end of November, a point which satiated both managers, but at the same time drew disappointment from both sides. There really is not much to choose between the two sides, as both have really tightened up at the back, but Villa have been finding goals a little harder to come from in the league.

Martin O’Neill has given Aston Villa a new lease of life this season. They play with width and seem to relish  playing in an attacking frame of mind. This winning formula has seen them reach the Final of the Carling Cup. Still in the FA Cup, and in the hunt for a Champions League place, Villa are one of the success stories of the season. Although Villa are in seventh place in the league, they sit just two points behind fourth placed Tottenham, with a game in hand over them. This is a crucial showdown in the race for fourth place, and after holding Arsenal to a 0-0 draw, and then beating Fulham, Villa will be confident that they can really rain on Tottenham’s parade and leapfrog them in the table.

A win for either team will have a huge influence over the race for fourth place. Tottenham will be feeling pressure if Villa get ahead of them with a game in hand, and Villa will be feeling pressure if they drop five points back of Tottenham. With Manchester City and Liverpool still in the mix, there is little margin for error.

BETTING STATS

Last 5 Head to Head
Aston Villa 1, Tottenham 1
Aston Villa 1, Tottenham 2
Tottenham 1, Aston Villa 2
Aston Villa 2, Tottenham 1
Tottenham 4, Aston Villa 4

Last 5 Match Goals
Spurs: 5 For, 3 Against
Aston Villa: 2 For, 4 Against

Last 10 Form
Spurs: W4, D4, L2
Aston Villa: W5, D3, L2

Win Percentage:
Spurs have a 66.7 win percentage at home
Aston Villa have a 61.9 win percentage away from home

Match Prices:
Tottenham to win: 6/5 at Boylesports
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Aston Villa to win: 11/4 at Ladbrokes

Betting Advice: Sensible bets will probably lean towards a draw in this fixture. Neither team are firing goals into the back of the net in the league at the moment, and both are secure at the back. Tottenham have shaken things up with the arrival of Eider Gudjohnsen and the departure of Robbie Keane to try and shake things up, while relying on England pair of Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe. This could be a defences-on-top fixture. Normally the onus is one the home team to do all the attacking, but with the width they employ and attacking nature, Villa could just be the more threatening.
Aston Villa +0.5 Asian Handicap: 4/5 at Bet365