ASTON VILLA vs SOUTHAMPTON
Saturday 21stDecember 1500hrs
Football – England Premier League
Pick Aston Villa AH+0.25
Bookmaker Betfred
Odds: 1.62 (odds taken 02:31 GMT, 21 December )
The afternoon matches in the Premier League serve up a relegation clash between Aston Villa and Southampton as the betting tips continue at Villa Park.
Aston Villa vs Southampton Live Stats & Betting Odds
Aston Villa Prediction – Can Aston Villa bounce back?
Following 3 defeats on the trot in the Premier League, this upcoming fixture against fellow relegation strugglers, Southampton, brings even greater importance to this clash in the west midlands at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon for both teams.
Villa have recently suffered defeats to Chelsea, Leicester City and Sheffield United and this has meant that the hosts have been unable to pull away from the relegation zone and indeed, Villa sit level on 15 points apiece with third from bottom Southampton ahead of this crucial ‘six-pointer’.
However, the majority of Aston Villa’s modest success so far this season has undoubtedly been on home turf at Villa Park where they possess a record of 3-2-3 11/11 and although they’ve recently lost to high-flying Liverpool and Leicester City who sit top and 2nd respectively, the Villains have also recorded wins against Brighton and Newcastle United too.
Indeed, Villa have shown that they’re capable of picking up results at home as an earlier win against Everton along with draws against West Ham and Burnley testify, and they’ll be a tough test for Southampton here I fancy.
Southampton Prediction – Can Southampton improve on road?
Only goal difference separates visitors, Southampton, and their Saturday afternoon’s hosts, Aston Villa, but it’s a significant difference of 11 goals and this is reflected by Southampton’s low goal production so far in this season’s Premier League campaign.
Only bottom club Watford (9), Crystal Palace (15) and Newcastle United (17) have scored fewer than Southampton overall this season to date, and the south coast side head into this crucial relegation tussle having suffered back-to-back defeats to Newcastle United and West Ham – the latter being a major blow at home at their St Mary’s Stadium.
Prior to these defeats, Saints had registered back-to-back wins against fellow strugglers, Watford and Norwich City but it should be noted that both of these wins were on home turf while results away from home have taken a definite nose-dive in recent times.
An away record of 2-2-4 9/12 doesn’t appear to be too bad considering, but Saints have now endured a 5-match spell without a win on their travels and this includes defeats at Tottenham, Manchester City and Newcastle United.
With just 5 away wins out of their last 25 matches on the road in the top flight, this could be another difficult 90 minutes for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.
Key-Facts – Aston Villa vs Southampton
- Aston Villa have lost their last 3 matches on the trot in the Premier League
- Villa have scored in 7 of their 8 home matches to date in the EPL
- Saints have endured a 5-match spell without a win on their travels
Betting Tips Verdict
This doesn’t look like being a classic by any stretch of the imagination but Villa might just edge this one.
