Aston Villa vs Bournemouth prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2024-04-20 14:00.
[p]It’s been a momentous week for Aston Villa as they booked a first European semi-final since 1982 by getting past Lille on penalties in the UEFA Europa Conference League, just days after beating Arsenal 2-0 in the Premier League. Consistency still eludes them, as they’ve lost two of their last six league games while conceding four times (W2, D2) and that could prove costly in their battle with Tottenham for fourth place.[/p]
[p]The potential windfall for avoiding such wildly fluctuating results is Champions League football next term, but even recent league results at home have been something of a mixed bag (W2, D1, L3). In theory, the visit of Bournemouth represents an opportunity to bolster that record as the Villans are yet to lose to a side starting this round in the bottom-half at home this term (W7, D2).[/p]
[p]Curiously, all three Premier League H2Hs at Villa Park (Villa: W1, L2) produced exactly three goals, and there’s also been plenty of action in Bournemouth’s recent games, including their 2-2 draw with Manchester United which manager Andoni Iraola felt was a disappointing result. Now mathematically safe from relegation, the Cherries may feel they can play with more freedom as they chase a top-half finish.[/p]
[p]But with four tricky league away fixtures remaining against sides above them in the table (Villa, Wolves, Arsenal, Chelsea), it’s hard to make a case for them picking up many points on the road after managing just one league win away from home since Christmas (D2, L3). As Man United remain the only current top-half side they’ve beaten on the road this term (D2, L4), a repeat of last season’s 3-0 defeat here can’t be ruled out.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Matty Cash popped up with a vital strike for Villa in midweek, with that his second consecutive goal to hit the net in the 87th minute. Dominic Solanke’s goal against Man United took him to 17 for the PL campaign – four of his last five opened the scoring.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: No side has conceded fewer first-half PL goals at home than Villa’s five this term.[/p]