Aston Villa v Middlesbrough Predictions & Betting Odds – 15th May 2018

Villa to close out the deal against Boro

Championship Betting

Aston Villa v Middlesbrough Betting Preview – Championship 15th May 7.45pm

Aston Villa have some control in this play off semi final tie now after having banked themselves a good 1-0 win at the Riverside. It is back to home soil now for them after they got through that trail successfully and are now favourites to make it through to the final. Middlesbrough went into the play offs in form but have left themselves with some work to do and are going to need to come up with more of an attacking impetus in the second leg than they managed in the first.

Aston Villa News and Form

Mike Jedinak got the only goal of the game in the first leg to give Villa a strong foothold in this play off tie. There wasn’t a lot of chances flying around at the Riverside for the first leg and part of that is down to a great job that Villa did in shutting down the threat of the home side. Villa finished seven points above Boro at the end of the regular season and they were well in control in that first leg. At no point of the game did they really look as if they were under too much pressure from Boro. Villa posted a W14 D7 L2 home record for the season and they are unbeaten in their last four at Villa Park. They have been strong at the back all season on home soil and conceded an average of just 0.8 goals per game and under 2.5 goals at bet365 is at 8/15 odds* (betting odds taken on May 13th, 2018 at 9:02 p.m.). Villa took a clean sheet in 43% of their home games in the regular season. Also on their side is that they didn’t lose at home against any side who finished in the top half of the table. In the bet365 correct score market a Villa 1-0 is at 5/1 odds* (betting odds taken on May 13th, 2018 at 9:02 p.m.).

Middlesbrough News and Form

Boro’s away record for the season was W8 D7 L8 and they managed to pick up only the one win in their final five road games (D3 L1). So they aren’t running that hot on the road and ahead of this tie it did appear as if they needed to get something out of the first leg at home. But they failed to do that and are now in a tough spot. In their four away games against the sides who finished above them in the table, Boro went winless in a D2 L2 record. So will they have enough to turn this time around? Boro only took the two away wins against sides in the final top fourteen during the regular season. The fact that they failed to convert in the first leg was a credit to Villa as Boro had netted exactly two goals in each of their last four games of the regular season, but there was no sign of that potency in the first leg. Both teams not to score is at even money odds* (betting odds taken on May 13th, 2018 at 9:02 p.m.). Middlesbrough were trailing at halftime in 13 of their 23 away games and averaged 1.5 goals per away game. They don’t have a clean sheet in any of their last five road games but are on a seven-match scoring streak away from the Riverside.

Aston Villa v Middlesbrough Head to Head

There have been four meetings between the two clubs already this season and from those, it is Villa who are 2-1 ahead now after the first leg of their play off. The two games at Villa Park produced a 0-0 draw in the league and a 2-0 success for Boro there in an EFL Cup tie. Both teams have failed to score in the four other games this season and each of the last five matches between the two clubs have failed to get over 2.5 goals. Villa are actually winless in their last six home games against Boro (D3 L3).

Aston Villa v Middlesbrough Betting Odds*

Aston Villa 5/4, Draw 23/10, Middlesbrough 13/5* (betting odds taken on May 13th, 2018 at 9:02 p.m.)

 

Aston Villa v Middlesbrough Predictions

Villa should be able to hold out from here. They did such a good job defensively at the Riverside and look to have the edge in this tie. They can close out the deal back at home but it may be tight again between them so the draw is well worth considering.