Aston Villa vs Southampton prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2024-12-06 15:00.
[p]After a winless streak spanning a whopping eight games (D3, L5), Aston Villa finally ended that negative run with a 3-1 midweek win against Brentford. They now go in search of back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since September when bottom-of-the-table Southampton journey to the Midlands, and despite their recent dip in form, Villa havenât lost in six league games at Villa Park (W3, D3). [/p]
[p]Four wins âto nilâ from their last five H2Hs against the Saints (L1) help mark Villa out as sound favourites for this clash, and boss Unai Emery will be keen to get the job done without any fuss here. Thatâs because theyâve got a huge UEFA Champions League game against RB Leipzig three days following this, one which is realistically a âmust-winâ for Villa if theyâre serious about advancing straight to the last 16.[/p]
[p]Southampton boss Russell Martin will be praying that Emery shuffles his pack with that in mind, but maybe thatâs just wishful thinking from a man who is firmly under pressure. The Saints are rooted to the foot of the table and now seven points adrift of safety after their 5-1 midweek defeat to Chelsea, one which prompted an angry St Maryâs faithful to boo their side off at full-time, despite Martin claiming he was âproudâ of his players. [/p]
[p]In fact, thereâs been very little for anyone to be proud of where Southampton are concerned this season, as their five points won after 14 games (W1, D2, L11) is the joint-second lowest return of any side in Premier League history. And things are unlikely to get much better on the road here for a Saints side who have lost six of their seven travelling league games this term (D1). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Of the seven goals Morgan Rogers has scored since signing for Aston Villa, six have come in the first half, including his strike in midweek. Southamptonâs Cameron Archer returns to Villa Park with a point to prove – he opened the scoring on this ground last season whilst playing for Sheffield United, though only two of his six top-flight scoring appearances ended in victory (D2, L2). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Southampton are the only side yet to score a first-half Premier League away goal this season. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]