Everton vs Aston Villa Betting Pick | English Premier

English Premier

2011-09-10 - Everton vs Aston Villa

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Everton v Aston Villa
Football : English Premier League
Saturday 10 September 2011 - Kickoff 3pm

Everton

David Moyes said at the start of the season that reaching the top 10 would be an achievement for Everton this season, and the lack of investment in the squad before the transfer window closed has me agreeing with him. To make matters tougher for the side, the fans have organised a march against the board before this game as they feel the club has 'stagnated' under their watch.

The sale of Mikel Arteta and Jermaine Beckford had the fans expecting plenty of new arrivals but they will have to make do with Roysten Drenthe and Denis Stracqualursi. The latter was at least the top scorer in Argentina last season, but there has not been enough movement to satisfy the fans.

Everton are 11th in the Premier League table having won 1 and lost 1 of their opening games this season. It is not an unfamiliar position for the fans to see a slow start to the season, but the fear is a few injuries would see the squad stretched and a possible flirtation with relegation. The Toffees have scored 1 and conceded 1 in their opening 2 games.

A disappointing 0-1 loss here at Goodison Park to QPR was followed by an extremely fortunate 0-1 win at Blackburn in a game where the home side missed TWO penalties and Everton scored one of their own. David Moyes may feel the luck has evened itself out as Everton had created numerous chances against QPR and did not deserve to lose that game. They have also beaten Sheffield United here in the Carling Cup.

Leighton Baines is a doubt after picking up a hamstring issue while with England. Victor Anichebe looks certain to miss out meaning Everton look a little light up front and will likely give Stracqualursi his chance.

Aston Villa

While the Everton fans are not happy with the way things are going at Goodison Park, the Aston Villa fans may be warming up to Alex McCleish after large sections of the support voiced their discontent in having the ex-Birmingham manager take over at Villa Park.

Much of the good feeling around the club will only remain if they can build on what has been a solid start to the new season. Villa are 7th in the table having picked up 5 points from their opening 3 games of the season and they have also progressed through to the 3rd Round of the Carling Cup. Villa drew their only away game of the season at Fulham.

The 0-0 draw with Wolves last time out at Villa Park means they have failed to score in 2 of their 3 League games, although there are the positives that they have kept 2 clean sheets too. Villa's only League win was the 3-1 home win over Blackburn and they also beat Hereford 2-0 in the Carling Cup.

Shay Given had been suffering with a back injury but got through his game for the Republic of Ireland should start in goal. New signing Alan Hutton is doubtful while Carlos Cuellar is likely to be missing, meaning Ciaran Clark could come in for the departed Luke Young. Darren Bent had to withdraw from the England squad for their games with Bulgaria and Wales, but looks to be winning his race for fitness in time for this game.

Head to Head

These two sides have been involved in plenty of high scoring games in the last few seasons, but the biggest thing that stands out is the fact Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 10 League games against Everton, although they have lost 1 FA Cup tie in that time.

Villa are unbeaten in their last 5 visits to Goodison Park in the League, although they have lost an FA Cup tie here in between.

Villa have won 2 and drawn 3 of their last 5 League visits to Everton.

Since Everton last won a League game over Villa, there have been 6 draws and 4 Villa wins overall.

4 of the last 5 games have ended in draws overall.

Prediction

The one thing Everton have been known for in the last season was failing to win games at home that they should have and that started again with a loss to QPR here in their first game. There is also additional pressure on the home side knowing the discontent in the stands and they look like a side to take on at this moment.

Everton have also been known for slow starts and now play a team that they have failed to beat in the League since March 2006.

Aston Villa have taken Alex McCleish's methods on board and have subsequently been much tougher defensively, something McCleish made sure his Birmingham side were.

They have a top goalkeeper in Shay Given that will keep them in games and they have enough options in the final third to think they will score enough goals to finish in the top half of the table and possibly have a good cup run.

I like Aston Villa to avoid defeat here at just odds on, especially considering the form of the two sides to open the season and the record they have against Everton in recent seasons.

With the fans unhappy, Everton will be under pressure to perform and if they go behind it will be a long way back for them. Villa to avoid defeat looks to be the call.

The Statistics :

EVERTON LAST SIX HOME FORM
	DATE	RESULT		OPPOSITION
	2011-08-20	L	0-1	H v QPR
	2011-05-22	W	1-0	H v Chelsea
	2011-05-07	W	2-1	H v Man_City
	2011-04-16	W	2-0	H v Blackburn
	2011-04-02	D	2-2	H v Aston_Villa
	2011-03-19	W	2-1	H v Fulham

ASTON_VILLA LAST SIX AWAY FORM
	DATE	RESULT		OPPOSITION
	2011-08-13	D	0-0	A v Fulham
	2011-05-15	W	1-2	A v Arsenal
	2011-04-30	L	2-1	A v WBA
	2011-04-16	W	1-2	A v West_Ham
	2011-04-02	D	2-2	A v Everton
	2011-03-05	L	3-2	A v Bolton

HEAD TO HEAD EVERTON v ASTON_VILLA
DATE	HOME	SCORE	AWAY
2011-04-02	Everton	2-2	Aston_Villa
2009-10-31	Everton	1-1	Aston_Villa
2008-12-07	Everton	2-3	Aston_Villa
2008-04-27	Everton	2-2	Aston_Villa
2006-11-11	Everton	0-1	Aston_Villa
2006-03-18	Everton	4-1	Aston_Villa