Aston Villa v Sunderland Prediction 29th April 2013

Aston Villa v Sunderland Betting Preview
Well the revival of the Black Cats under the guidance of Paolo Di Canio seems to be going well as after racking up back to back wins. They have just about clawed their way away from the drop zone, but they will be dragged back level on points with Villa if they lose this one. A win for Paul Lambert’s men would do their survival hopes the power of good and could just about see them safe. This is where they need to convert in what is a high pressured match. They head into the weekend three points clear of 18th placed Wigan, but having played a game more. The worse scenario for the weekend is the Latics beat Spurs and they lose against Sunderland. That would drop Villa back into the relegation zone.

Aston Villa v Sunderland Betting Odds at online bookmaker Ladbrokes
Aston Villa 6/5, Draw 12/5, Sunderland 11/5

Online bookmaker Promotion
There is great live match coverage thanks to the ongoing Red Card Redemption offer available at online bookmaker Ladbrokes. If a red card is shown in a live televised match (which this encounter is) then the bookmaker will refund losing stakes on Next Goalscorer and Correct Score bets placed live in play during the game. A great way to cover yourself on a couple of the most popular live in play betting markets. New customers registering an account with the bookie can receive three free £10 bets as well on their account as a great welcome bonus.

Aston Villa v Sunderland Recommended Bet:
A big match for Paul Lambert and his troops on home soil. They aren’t out of the woods yet, even though their survival will be based on what Wigan do beneath them. The Villains are still being a bit patchy in their form and were blown away last Monday evening at Old Trafford by a Robin van Persie hat trick. However, Villa’s play wasn’t bad at all and they could have taken enough confidence away from their spirited display to rally together and get precious points on the board. Lambert has done a good job in getting the young and inexperienced Villa side to what seems to be the light at the end of the tunnel. They have lost just two of their last six matches in the Premier League now and haven’t given up the fight at all. Picking points up at home is going to be crucial for them and at Villa Park this season they have posted just a W4 D5 L8 record. That is only a 23% success rate.

Villa have conceded in each of their last nine home matches, and in total are on a run of 23 matches without a clean sheet. Not good. They have won one, drawn one and lost in their last three home games, their last effort a 1-1 draw against Fulham. So there are no certainties in this one, simply because of their defence which can let things slip easily. However, this could really be a big market for their survival this season. Pulling level on points with the Black Cats would give them some breathing space, even though they have a far worse goal difference to Sunderland. The Black Cats are singing the praises of Di Canio after winning back to back games against Newcastle and then Everton. They were very timely wins indeed for the Wearside club to put a bit of dalyight between themselves and the drop zone.

They lost at home to Villa 1-0 earlier in the season and the Black Cats didn’t muster up a single shot on target in that match. There have only been 14 goals scored in 11 previous Premier League meetings between the two sides. The Black Cats have lost just one of their last five Premier League visits to Villa park, winning two and drawing two. Holding their nerve here would go a long way and given their new found confidence, Sunderland could be good for a draw. There have been five red cards in the last eight league meetings between the two, and because of what’s at stake here, would expect a nervous, tense game with no quarter given. Sunderland aren’t bankable with a lot of confidence having won just one of their last five away games and having just a W4 D4 L9 record on the road, scoring at a rate of just over a goal per game.

Aston Villa has been the lowest scoring first half ground in the Premier League this season. Would expect it to be tight again. Villa are probably a better team than Sunderland and would just edge them on home soil to nick it in a Draw/Aston Villa Half Time/Full Time bet for a price of 9/2 at online bookmaker Ladbrokes.

Form
Aston Villa WWLWDL, Sunderland LDLLWW

Stat Attack
Villa are without a clean sheet in their last 23 matches
There have been five red cards in the last eight EPL matches between the two
Villa have lost 8 of the 10 home matches they have fallen behind in this season
Sudnerland have lost just one of the last five EPL visits to Villa Park