IT'S getting edgy for Aston Villa. Time is running out. Does Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) think they can win on Tuesday against West Brom?
Aston Villa v West Brom | Tuesday 19:45 | BT Sport 1
A seventh straight league defeat for Aston Villa on Saturday has now made the prospect of relegation a very real one. You could sense the concern on Tim Sherwood's face after the match at the weekend. Now, they line up against West Midland rivals West Brom on Tuesday night.
Those of you that backed the 9/4 on West Brom to go down at the start of the season must have heaved a sigh of despair when Tony Pulis was appointed just before New Year. One defeat in his 10 matches since his appointment tells you all you need to know about the guy. Can Sherwood outfox Pulis? Unlikely.
If there's one glimmer of hope for Villa, it's that Pulis' three Premier League away games in charge have yet to produce a win. Two of the matches were 0-0 draws, against Sunderland and Everton, and that's a theme I think we'll witness again on Tuesday night. Don't expect goals.
I made the schoolboy error of backing Aston Villa to score on Saturday against Newcastle, but they let me down. As regular readers/viewers will know, I backed Villa to go down before the season started, now it seems very plausible.
13 goals scored in 27 Premier League matches is an abysmal figure for Aston Villa, and when you marry that with the fact West Brom have scored just eight away goals in their 13 Premier League matches, then you have a pretty horrid match coming up. The Baggies also have fitness doubts over forward men Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye.
It's a no-brainer really. Going low on the goals seems the way forward here. The bookmakers agree though and there's very little value kicking about. Under 2.5 Goals is as short as 8/15 best price with Ladbrokes and even Under 2 Goals on the Asian Handicap Goal Line is odds on!
I'm going to dabble in the Total Goals market here and back exactly one goal at 14/5 with BWin. It very well might lose, but it's the only price that gets me excited amongst all these low-goal markets.
This bet was a winner in Villa's game on Saturday and in three of their last 10 matches. This bet would also have paid out in the Baggies match on Saturday, and at 14/5 it's a decent price. An uninspiring bet for an uninspiring match.
Best Bet
Aston Villa v West Brom – Exactly One Goal Scored (14/5 BWin)
Your View?
How do you see this match going? Is Chris on the right lines?
Let us know what you're backing on Tuesday in the comments box below.
