Eng. Championship
2019-04-28 - Leeds United vs Aston Villa
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Sunday 28th April 2019 - Kick Off 12pm
This game is live on TV
Leeds United
There are many times over the years when Easter Weekend has been considered a pivotal one up and down the land. The Premier League no longer has the two games played over the four day weekend, but the Championship has maintained those traditions and it looks to have proved to be very costly for Leeds United as far as their automatic promotion hopes go.
Losing to Wigan Athletic who played with ten men for 75 minutes and following up with a 2-0 defeat at Brentford on Easter Monday has left Leeds United in 3rd place and 3 points behind Sheffield United who are 11 goals better off on the goal difference. By the time this game kicks off on Sunday lunchtime, Leeds United might be all but consigned to the Play Off spots and it is going to be a challenge for Marcelo Bielsa to pick his players up. The side have a 14-3-5 record at Elland Road and will want some momentum to take into the Play Offs which are played next month.
Leeds United have faltered at the wrong time of the season and 4 losses from their last 7 League games have seen them overtaken by Sheffield United for the second of the two automatic promotion spots in the Championship. They have won 10 of their last 14 League games here, but the exceptions have all ended in losses and the 1-2 defeat to Wigan Athletic on Good Friday looks to be the fatal defeat as far as automatic promotion goes.
Aston Villa
Over the years we have seen a number of teams build some real momentum to take into the Play Offs and the most dangerous looking team that is set to take part in those tension filled fixtures is Aston Villa. Dean Smith has got his side playing better than any other in the Championship and the players may well feel they can finish this season one better than they did twelve months ago.
The side have climbed into 5th place in the Championship table and a Play Off spot has been confirmed thanks to a 1-0 win over Millwall on Easter Monday. There may still be a hope that Aston Villa can finish in 4th place which would mean they are hosting the Play Off Semi Final Second Leg, and they will be heading into this live televised fixture looking to improve their 9-7-6 away record in the League.
Aston Villa made some club history on Easter Monday by winning for the 10th game in a row and that is the kind of momentum that will perhaps make them favourites for promotion from the Play Offs. They have won 5 in a row away from home in the Championship and Aston Villa have scored at least twice in the last 4 on their travels.
Head to Head
Leeds United came from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa 2-3 at Villa Park earlier this season.
Leeds United are unbeaten in 5 at home against Aston Villa but 3 of those have ended in draws including a 1-1 draw last season.
Prediction
This is a fixture that was televised for live coverage at a time when it looked like it could have huge meaning for both clubs. Both Leeds United and Aston Villa might not have the same necessity for the three points by the time this one kicks off on Sunday, but it could be the chance for one to lay a marker down to a potential Play Off rival.
Leeds United lost both games over Easter which means they need Sheffield United to fail to win both of their remaining games to have a realistic chance for automatic promotion. The fact The Blades are playing bottom club Ipswich Town on Saturday means it is unlikely and all Leeds United can do is try and put some momentum behind themselves to take into the Play Offs.
Their opponents Aston Villa have secured a Play Off spot thanks to an incredible run of 10 wins in a row, which is a new club record, and they look the team to beat as we approach the Play Offs. Knocking off Leeds United away from home would be a huge achievement and underline their belief and I do think this could be a decent game of football on Sunday.
Neither team will likely have much to lose, but instead have all to gain as they look to earn the mental edge ahead of the Play Offs. I think attacking football is the philosophy of both Marcelo Bielsa and Dean Smith which will make sure the game is a good one for the neutrals and I think there will be goals at both ends.
There were five goals shared out when these teams met at Villa Park earlier this season and I will be looking for at least three on Sunday.
The Pick :
Leeds United 2-1 Aston Villa
