MY ACCOUNT
– Tottenham have won on their last eight visits to Villa Park
– Aston Villa have lost their last two matches without scoring a goal
– Recommended bet: Tottenham draw no bet
The race for European places is approaching a critical stage of the season, and a lot could depend on the outcome of Aston Villa’s fixture against Tottenham.
A top-seven finish for Villa would be their best effort since 2009-10, when they finished sixth and qualified for the Europa League.
However, Unai Emery’s side needs to address a recent slump which has seen them suffer back-to-back 1-0 losses away to Manchester United and Wolves.
Spurs are at risk of finishing outside of the top seven for the first time since 2008-09, but they can still rely on Harry Kane, who took his seasonal league tally to 26 with the winning goal in last Saturday’s 1-0 success at home to Crystal Palace.
Team news
Jed Steer (calf) is ruled out for the season, but he looks to be Aston Villa’s only absentee.
Matty Cash (calf) has returned to training and is ready to challenge Ashley Young for the right-back berth.
Hugo Lloris (muscle strain), Rodrigo Bentancur (both knee) and Ryan Sessegnon (thigh) remain out of contention, and Clement Lenglet (shoulder) will need to be assessed after sustaining an injury towards the end of the 1-0 success at home to Crystal Palace.
Yves Bissouma returned to the bench last weekend and is pushing for his first involvement since February.
The stats
Aston Villa were 2-0 winners away to Tottenham in January, but they have not beaten the Londoners at Villa Park since a 2-1 triumph on New Year’s Day in 2008.
Tottenham have racked up eight consecutive wins at the venue and are unbeaten on their last 12 visits.
However, the Lilywhites have gone six Premier League away matches without a victory and had gone eight games without a clean sheet until last weekend’s 1-0 success at home to Palace.
Villa have won ten Premier League home games this season, which is their joint-highest number since the 2002-03 campaign.
Prediction
Tottenham are having a difficult season, but they have won on their last eight visits to Villa Park and look overpriced to collect a vital three points this weekend.
The second half of the season has been a success story for Villa, who collected 26 points from a ten-game spell between late February and late April to lift themselves into top-seven contention.
However, the Villans’ single-goal losses away to Manchester United and Wolves were significant setbacks, and they are up against a Spurs side which possesses superior individual quality.
Tottenham have suffered a lot of damaging setbacks this season, and their defensive record (57 goals conceded) is the poorest among the top 13 clubs.
However, they have responded positively to caretaker-manager Ryan Mason, who has made a few tactical tweaks and got them playing with a bit more purpose and structure.
The Londoners were worthy 1-0 winners at home to an in-form Crystal Palace side last Saturday, and if they can defend with similar discipline at Villa Park, their offensive quality should win them the game.
Back Tottenham draw no bet available at 6/5 with LiveScore Bet.
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