MY ACCOUNT
– Aston Villa have won eight of their last 11 games
– Only the bottom two have scored fewer goals than Wolves this season
– Recommended bet: Aston Villa to win
Aston Villa have turned themselves around under Unai Emery and are now in serious competition for a European place after winning eight of their last 11 Premier League matches.
After this derby with Wolves they face the three teams around them in the race for a top-seven finish, making securing all three points at Molineux even more crucial.
For the home team they may need this game to put a spark back into their season, which is in danger of fizzling out after a 6-0 thrashing away to Brighton last time out — a result which no doubt will have left Julen Lopetegui demanding a response from his players.
Both teams will be desperate for local bragging rights in this clash and would dearly love to take home all three points, albeit for differing reasons.
Team news
Long-term absentees Sasa Kalajdzic and Chiquinho remain sidelined for Wolves, while Boubacar Traore and Nelson Semedo are also doubts for this clash.
Jed Steer and Boubacar Kamara are missing for Villa, while Poland international wing-back Matty Cash is a doubt with a calf injury and Leon Bailey and Philippe Coutinho are also questionable, both thanks to thigh injuries.
The stats
Aston Villa have won eight of their last 11 league matches, losing just once in that run.
They have also kept clean sheets in seven of those eight victories and seven of their last nine away games have featured under 2.5 goals.
Only the bottom two sides in the division have scored fewer goals than Wolves’ 29 in 34 games and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in six of their last eight Premier League games against Villa.
Prediction
This local derby should be a competitive encounter but both teams have different motivations, with Villa aiming to secure European football for the first time since 2010/11 and Wolves in danger of stagnating after all but securing their Premier League status for next season.
Their 6-0 defeat at Brighton last time out was emblematic of a team without much to play for and they look unlikely to get the better of Emery’s men.
Given the home side’s attacking issues and the recent strong defensive form of the visitors, a low-scoring Villa win looks the likeliest outcome in this one.
Back an Aston Villa victory at 29/20 with LiveScore Bet.
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