Bristol Rovers vs Aston Villa Betting Pick | English FA CUP

English FA CUP

2012-01-07 - Bristol Rovers vs Aston Villa

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Bristol Rovers v Aston Villa
Football: FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 7 January 2012 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV

Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers sacked manager Paul Buckle this week as the team were sinking towards the bottom of League Two and a potential relegation outside of the Football League. Some people had tipped Bristol Rovers to challenge for promotion back up to League One following their relegation last term, but all in all this season has been a real disappointment so far.

Rovers are sitting down in 19th place in the League at the moment and find themselves just 5 points better off than Plymouth Argyle at the bottom of the League, while only Northampton have conceded more goals so far this season. They have a 4-2-7 record at the Memorial Stadium, scoring 17 goals and conceding 23.

Form has been very poor over the festive period, losing their last 4 games and conceding at least 2 goals in each of those games. Bristol Rovers were heavily beaten in their last home game 2-5 by Crewe and they have lost 3 of their last 4 games here while conceding at least 2 goals in each.

Scott Bevan and Matt Harrold look both set to miss out, the latter being an important player who leads the goal scoring charts for the club.

Aston Villa

All of the good work at Stamford Bridge, where Aston Villa were 1-3 victors last week, was undone on Monday as they put in a flat performance in a 0-2 home loss to Swansea. The fans have never really got behind Alex McLeish and there has always been an uneasy understanding between him and those in the stands, something that an early FA Cup exit would not improve.

That loss to the Swans dropped Villa out of the top half of the table as they fell to 13th in the Premier League. Surprisingly, Villa have actually picked up more points away from home than they have at Villa Park, going 2-6-2 in their away games in the League. They have scored 11 goals and conceded 13 in their away games so far.

A look at Villa's form shows that they have lost their last 4 games at Villa Park, yet they are unbeaten in their last 4 away games while winning 2 of them. Goals have been a problem for this side as they have failed to find the net in 6 of their last 9 games in the League.

Alan Hutton could return to the starting line up this week, while Enda Stevens could be making his debut following his signing this week.

Head to Head

These two teams last met in the 1992/93 FA Cup competition with Aston Villa winning 0-3 here after a 1-1 draw in the first game.

Villa's last 2 away games at Bristol Rovers have both been in this competition and the have won both games.

Prediction

This may have looked like a potential banana skin for Aston Villa following their recent up and down form in the Premier League, but they are coming up against a side that is struggling to keep clean sheets and one that must be full of negativity after a terrible run of form.

The sacking of Paul Buckle was coming as the team started sliding down towards the danger zone in League Two, especially as the pre-season expectations were much higher than has turned out in reality.

Alex McLeish should send out a strong Villa side to get the job done at the first time of asking as he won't want any more pressure on himself after the performance on Monday against Swansea. He showed he can lead a side to cup glory at Birmingham City last season in the Carling Cup and I think he will get on the right road with a comfortable win here.

I am going to take Villa to cover the 1 goal handicap in this one.