English Premier
2011-08-20 - Aston Villa vs Blackburn Rovers
A Sports Betting Pick by Lamps
Football : England : Premiership
Saturday 20th August - Kickoff 3:00pm
Aston Villa
Alex McLeish makes his home debut this Saturday and I'm sure he will get a good cheer from the fans despite being an ex-Blue. The best way to get the Villa fans on side is to start getting results and his side has already started well picking up a clean sheet and more importantly at Fulham last time out. On Saturday, Rovers are the visitors and this is very much a winnable game for the Villa.
What impressed me the most last week was how the side despite being really under the cosh for large spells of the game, hung in there and battled solid for 90 minutes. The reward was a point at Craven Cottage which isn't an easy place to visit especially as Fulham score a lot of goals at home.
The signing of Given is a massive one for me and he made a string of fine saves keeping Fulham at bay. To emphasise how good the clean sheet was, last year Villa kept no clean sheets on the road and only 7 all season. 1 in 1 from McLeish is a good start and having a reputation for getting his sides to play solid and tight is a welcome one for Villa.
Going forward there is always the threat of Bent whilst N'Zogbia is a threat to, last week they did score but it was ruled out for offside. Hopefully this time around being at home they can go for it and I'll be stunned if they don't score especially with Rovers defensive problems at the moment.
Team news is that Cuellar misses out with a knee injury and Given remains a doubt following a groin tweak sustained at Fulham last time out. The reports suggest that Given will be ok and should start between the sticks as Villa hope to build on last week's clean sheet.
Other than the two above, the squad is fit and raring to go. I expect to see Bent supported by Agbonlahor and N'Zogbia with Heskey making way for Alrighton who will slot in midfield. Delph and Petrov are very solid and should do a lot of the donkey work for the team with full backs Warnock and Young providing additional width.
Predicted Aston Villa Lineup:
Given, Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock; Petrov, Delph; N’Zogbia, Albrighton, Agbonlahor; Bent.
Blackburn Rovers
Following last season's final day survival after a 3-2 win at Wolves, Blackburn had a horror opening day loss to the same side in last weeks 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park. The result is a very poor one and it makes the visit to Villa Park a lot more important having picked up 0 points from the first game.
Rovers started brightly enough taking the lead through Formica but then surrendered goals in either half to Wolves who really did a job on Blackburn and at times looked like the home side.
A big problem for the side has been the lack of transfer activity, with 11 players leaving and just 3 coming in the side is starved of talent and depth. The side has a decent back 4 and keeper but right now with injuries hanging over this key area and the attack looking a very flat one it doesn't look good for Rovers.
I said this last week that I'm not sure where the goals will come from for Blackburn. Last season they failed to score in 10 matches with 8 in the last 20 games that Kean was in charge of. The top goal scorers at the club were tied on 5 goals each (Kalinic, Hoilett, Roberts) with Kalinic leaving it leaves an inexperienced Hoilett and Roberts who is very much on the decline. For me playing a spirited Villa side buzzing after their clean sheet last week isn't ideal especially given how poor this forward line is.
Team news isn't great for Blackburn given that there's doubts over Nelsen, Samba, Petrovic whilst Givet and Emerton are out. The key defensive back 4 of Salgado, Samba, Nelsen and Given was put depleted last week and was put to the sword by Wolves, a side that isn't know for scoring a lot of goals. Villa are hardly nutbusters them selves but at Villa Park they are a huge threat especially as both Nelsen and Samba are struggling. Right now I expect one to make it, which one I have no idea, but what it means is Hanley will make another start despite his inexperience.
Going forward the midfield should be NZonzi, Dunn, Pedersen, Formica and Hoilett with Roberts up top on his own. Goodwillie is likely to start on the bench and get a run out in the second half.
Predicted Blackburn Lineup:
Robinson, Salgado, Hanley, Samba, Olsson; NZonzi, Dunn, Pedersen, Formica, Hoilett; Roberts.
The Betting Verdict
I went against Blackburn last week and won, I'm going to do so again this weekend. The side has injury doubts to key players at the back whilst their attack isn't Premiership quality for me.
Villa are a solid side at home and after their great point at Fulham will want to kick on here. The squad is virtually fully fit with just one injured player of which there is adequate cover for anyways.
Bent barely had a sniff last week but when he did he scored, it was ruled out for offside yes, but he looked sharp and against Hanley in the Rovers I fancy him to get his goal campaign started. Home win
Good Luck.
The Pick :
Aston Villa 2-0 Blackburn Rovers
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Aston Villa 1.80 at Pinnaclesports
