Premier League: Who Will Put on Their ‘Sunday Best’ at Villa Park?

Aston Villa vs Fulham

These two Premier League outfits will be hoping to produce their Sunday best and sign off with a win before the final international break of 2023.

Villa Park is the venue for a clash between two sides who made great strides last season and now want to continue their momentum in an upward trajectory.

The hosts begin as favourites and start in fifth place in the table but the Cottagers are more than capable of causing surprises and Premier League highlights.

Talking Points

Last time out, Fulham were unfortunate to lose at home to a last-gasp Bruno Fernandes goal.

That was a match which showed that, in Joao Palhinha, they have a top notch midfielder.

It was also a contest which showed they lack a killer instinct in attack.

It is that lack of ruthlessness at the sharp end since the summer departure of Aleksandar Mitrovic, who did so much for the Cottagers from the off last term, which is something manager Marco Silva will hope to resolve in the January transfer window.

Alongside Brighton and Brentford, Fulham were one of the Premier League teams of last season and their progress was great credit to Silva and his players.

Yet maintaining that after losing key personnel – Bayern Munich are tipped to come back in for Palhinha in the New Year too – makes it more difficult to continue to punch above their weight.

By contrast, Villa did strengthen this summer and will want to bounce back after their surprise defeat at Midland rivals Nottingham Forest last Sunday.

Ola Aina gave Forest a fifth-minute lead with his first goal for the club.

They then doubled their advantage just after the restart when Orel Mangala’s powerful 25-yard strike embarrassed World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

It was a rare setback for a team which has been transformed since Unai Emery took over the reins just over a year ago and have won their last 12 home games in the Premier League.

Villa were 17th when Steven Gerrard was sacked before Emery came in and guided them to a seventh-placed finish.

The team improved dramatically, winning 10 of their last 15 games.

Emery has turned Villa Park into a fortress and supporters are loving every second.

With European football also back in the Midlands, no wonder it’s fun to be a Villa fan right now, watching the team enjoy their best start in the league for 25 years.

They have not tasted defeat at Villa Park since a 4-2 loss to Arsenal in February and even then it took two goals in second-half injury time to succumb to defeat.

Fulham will want to make it unlucky 13.

History

Historically, this is a match-up which is as a close as you can get.

Both teams have 26 wins apiece with a further 22 draws.

Their very first clash came in the FA Cup quarter-finals in March 1905, a tie Villa won 5-0 at Villa Park.

The scorers that day were Joe Bache, Harry Hampton (two), Albert Hall and Joe Pearson

The most recent clash came in April at the same ground when a Tyrone Mings goal separated the sides in the top flight.

Fulham had ridden roughshod over Villa in the other league fixture last October.

That night, Harrison Reed, Mitrovic and an own goal sealed a 3-0 success for the Cottagers and prompted Villa bosses to fire Steven Gerrard and hire Emery.

Arguably, their most high-profile meeting was the 2018 Championship Play-Off final at Wembley when Tom Cairney scored the only goal to earn promotion for Fulham.

They also met in a pre-season friendly in Florida. For the record, that encounter was won 2-0 by Villa, thanks to goals from Jaden Philogene and Moussa Diaby.

Betting Tip

Villa have the edge with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds, priced First Half 1X2 @ 2.17, First Half Asian Handicap -0.50, also @ 2.17, 1X2 @ 1.58 and Asian Handicap –1.00 @ 2.03 and -1.25 @ 2.33.

A repeat of Villa’s 1-0 home win from the corresponding fixture last term will pay out @ 7.00 with Correct Score.

Fulham are available to back First Half 1X2 @ 4.40, First Half Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.12, 1X2 @ 5.00 and Asian Handicap +0.75 @ 2.13.

These two sides don’t have many goal-free encounters and it’s probably worth considering Over 3.00 @ 2.13, Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.98 and 4-6 @ 3.00.

I think Villa’s European exertions may make this an even tougher assignment but on paper, they should have too much.

I am, however, going to opt for a 1X2 Draw @ 3.80 as a ** prediction.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.