S.P. Read Esq: Aston Villa v Fulham
Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to Saturday’s Championship Play-off final between ASTON VILLA v FULHAM and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.
It’s one of the most valuable games in football and the play-off final between Fulham and Aston Villa could be extremely tight. Victory could earn the winning club as much as £170 million and nerves are sure to be frayed at Wembley.
Villa’s road to the play-off final has been built from the rear-guard. Amongst the favourites to take top honours, they couldn’t match Wolves or Cardiff but only those two sides conceded fewer goals and Fulham will have to work extremely hard to get any opportunities. John Terry has been a rock-solid centre-back, but James Chester deserves credit too whilst Glenn Whelan and Mile Jedinak have been excellent in midfield to frustrate other sides.
Middlesbrough found this out to their cost – across three hours of action the one-time ante-post favourites had just three shots on target. Indeed the 1-0 aggregate scoreline flattered the visitors hugely, with defender James Chester’s shot going just wide.
Fulham’s impressive performance in their second leg at Craven Cottage against Derby County was the same sort of form that nearly earned them automatic promotion before a 1-0 loss on the final day at Birmingham. In becoming only the second side in 17 to progress after overturning a first leg loss, the Cottagers dominated possession over the two legs, with 69% of the ball.
In the last 20 years, 12 (63%) Championship play-off finals have had fewer than three goals in 90 minutes and four of the most recent five had just one goal.
Only three of the past 17 finals have seen ‘Both Teams To Score’ oblige and these two teams came through tight semi-final legs – this might be another low scorer. There were just four goals in the four semi-final legs combined between these two and each one of them went under 2.5 goals with Villa’s both going under 1.5.
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Championship Play-Off Final
17:00 Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Main Event
HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Feb 2018 CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 2-0 Aston Villa
Oct 2017 CHAMPIONSHIP Aston Villa 2-1 Fulham
Apr 2017 CHAMPIONSHIP Fulham 3-1 Aston Villa
Oct 2016 CHAMPIONSHIP Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
Apr 2015 PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa 1-2 Fulham
Dec 2013 PREMIER LEAGUE Fulham 2-0 Aston Villa
Apr 2013 PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa 1-1 Fulham
Oct 2012 PREMIER LEAGUE Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa
Mar 2012 PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham
Aug 2011 PREMIER LEAGUE Fulahm 0-0 Aston Villa
A buy of the first match goal at 43 minutes with Star Spreads looks the call.
CLICK FOR ASTON VILLA v FULHAM MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS
RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)
BUY FIRST MATCH GOAL for 40 points at 43 with Star Spreads
- Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
- Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.
