English Premier
2011-08-20 - Aston Villa vs Blackburn Rovers
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : English Premier League
Saturday 20 August 2011 - Kickoff 3pm
Aston Villa
Alex McCleish will be more than aware that not every supporter coming to Villa Park on Saturday is going to be behind him unless he gets his side off to a strong start in their first home game of the season. After moving into the manager's office from local rivals Birmingham City, McCleish has a lot to prove to his new fans.
The signing of Shay Given payed immediate dividends as the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper was in very good form last week, making 2 fantastic saves that earned a point for Villa at Fulham. While the likes of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing are no longer at the club, the Villa fans still expect a decent season.
Villa had a decent 8-7-4 record at Villa Park last season, but they scored just 26 goals in those games while conceding 19. The lack of goals should be rectified by Darren Bent in his first full season at the club, while the likes of Charles N'Zogbia, Marc Albrighton and Gabby Agbonlahor will be the main creative players.
They have lost just 1 of their last 8 Premier League games at Villa Park, although the concern will be that they failed to score more than 1 goal in any of their last 5 games at home.
Shay Given has a slight groin injury but should still be in the line up on Saturday. Carlos Cueller is out with an injury, but there are no other injury worries.
Blackburn Rovers
Steve Kean must be under additional pressure after seeing his side lose on the opening day of the season at home and the manager was also given a driving ban since that time after being found guilty of drink-driving. The owners of the club had demanded a European spot this season, but a lack of investment in the playing squad looks to have left Rovers a little short at the moment.
With less than 2 weeks left of the transfer window, Blackburn are desperate to add to their ranks but they still try to reach too hard to find players- the latest in a number of big names linked with the club was Raul but they are also looking at more reasonable targets like Nedum Onouha from Manchester City. What looks clear is the team need investment if they are to maintain their Premier League status this season.
Blackburn were poor travellers last season and ended with a 4-3-12 record, scoring 24 goals but conceding a League high 43. Only Wolves and Stoke lost more of their away games in the League.
The team had failed to win 8 away Premier League games in a row before beating Wolves on the last day of the season to preserve their top flight status. A real worry would be the fact they conceded at least 2 goals in 10 of their last 13 away games and stats like that make it very hard to avoid defeat.
Chris Samba and Ryan Nelson should both overcome niggles to take their places at the heart of the Blackburn defence. Gael Givet and Brett Emerton will be missing.
Head to Head
To say Aston Villa have enjoyed Blackburn's recent visits to Villa Park would not be an understatement and they have won 6 of their last 7 at home against them.
Villa beat Blackburn 3 times at home last season, including in both Cup competitions, and won the League game 4-1.
Villa are 5-1-1 in their last 7 League games at home against Blackburn.
Prediction
Aston Villa should be good enough to win this match if they employ the same positive tactics as last week at Fulham.
The layers are beginning to cotton on to that fact and the home win is beginning to get dangerously close to too short a price to back, but the 1.75 at Pinnacle is still big enough to tempt me in.
Blackburn look a little out of sorts and the home defeat to Wolves last week would have increased the pressure on the squad a little more. There has been far too little investment in the playing squad over the Summer and it is no surprise a lot of people tipped them to be a relegation team come May.
My only concern in this game is the lack of goals in the Villa squad and they remind me of Sunderland in the fact that if Darren Bent doesn't score, there are not a lot of others who I would have faith in.
However, they have a strong home record against Blackburn and should have enough to see them to their first 3 points of the Alex McCleish era.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
Aston Villa 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Aston Villa @ 1.75 (Pinnacle)
