Villa Set for a Winning Run in the Championship

Steve Bruce has come under pressure from sections of the Villa crowd after a poor start to the season, so Saturday’s 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest was a crucial result. That win brought up a six game unbeaten run and took the Villains to within two points of the top six and the play offs.

Promotion is the ultimate aim for Villa this season and the likes of John Terry and Robert Snodgrass were brought in to make that a reality. The Villains are currently seven points off the top of the table, and those back-to-back wins against Barnsley and Notts Forest came at a crucial time. The big teams that win promotion from the Championship tend to have at least one section of the season where they go on 8-10 game winning runs. Villa may be on the cusp of a good run of results that propels them up the table, and it could be worth siding with Steve Bruce’s side in the coming weeks.

The two sides which lead the table with 20 points (alongside Wolves) meet in Wales on Tuesday night as Cardiff host Leeds. Both have had arguably better starts to the season than expected, but both have been good value for the results achieved. Leeds may have won on their last two visits here, but may have to settle for a share of the spoils against Neil Warnock’s hard-to-beat Cardiff side.

Another game that catches the eye on Tuesday is the one between Nottingham Forest and Fulham, where goals could be on the cards. Forest’s 2-1 defeat at Villa on the weekend was the fourth game in the last five which saw over 2.5 goals, while both teams have scored in each of the last four Fulham matches.

Burton v Aston Villa

Villa look a fair price to beat Burton on Tuesday night at 2.00Bet €100 to win €2001/1Bet £100 to win £200+100Bet $100 to win $2001.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$2001.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp2001.0000Bet RM100 to win RM200  with Bet365 and Betway.

Nigel Clough’s side have only kept one clean sheet in 19 home games, so we can reasonably expect to see goals on the night. Survival was a big achievement for a team punching above it’s weight last season, and it will be the number one target this term too. To that end Burton have started fairly well, and they are three points ahead of the bottom three at this early stage. Maintaining a position above the relegation zone will be a sign of success again this season, but they are always likely to be vulnerable to the ‘big’ sides in the division.

Do Villa fit that bill? Certainly not on the evidence of the opening few games, but six unbeaten and two wins in a row has restored confidence. The 3-0 away win at Barnsley also got them off the mark on away days – something that could prove vital in this year’s promotion bid. Away form has consistently let them down over the last 2-3 seasons, but if they have any pretensions of going up, they will need to win games away at the clubs on the bottom half of the league ladder.

Cardiff v Leeds

The draw looks like the value option here as two sides in top form go head to head. Take 3.50Bet €100 to win €3505/2Bet £100 to win £350+250Bet $100 to win $3502.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$3502.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp350-0.4000Bet RM100 to win RM350  with BetVictor and Marathonbet about the stalemate.

Cardiff and Leeds have identical win-draw-loss records in the Championship of 6-2-1, and both recorded victories over the weekend. Cardiff won 2-1 away at Sunderland, while Leeds beat Ipswich 3-2 at home.

Can either sustain a push for promotion this season? Well Leeds were close to making the play offs last term and are on an upward  trajectory, while Cardiff have steadily improved ever since Neil Warnock took charge. Both will hope to do a ‘Huddersfield’ this season, and it’s quite possible that either could be in contention next May.

Leeds haven’t had a goalless draw in 48 away games, so there’s every chance of goals here, but the value has to lay with the draw in a very even match.

Nottingham Forest v Fulham

Forest are going to be a side to follow for over 2.5 goals this season, and that’s the bet when they host Fulham at 1.73Bet €100 to win €17373/100Bet £100 to win £173-137Bet $100 to win $1730.73Bet HK$100 to win HK$173-1.37Bet Rp100 to win Rp1730.7300Bet RM100 to win RM173  with Betfair.

Nottingham have already conceded 15 goals this season – more than anyone apart from Hull and Bolton. They’ve also scored 12 times and regularly feature in high-scoring matches. 9 of their 12 competitive games in all competitions this season have gone over the 2.5 goal line, including four of the last five. They’re also on a run of five defeats in six matches, so all is not well as they continue to slide down the table.

Fulham on the other hand, have endured a mediocre start to the season which has seen them draw 5 of their 9 Championship fixtures. Surprisingly, considering their form last season, they are one of the lowest scoring and conceding sides in the division, but Forest may present an opportunity for the Cottagers to cut loose. There have been more positive signs over recent weeks as both teams have scored in each of the last four matches – two of which have surpassed 2.5 goals.

Tips Summary

Aston Villa to beat Burton
Tuesday 25th September, 19:45 GMT
Odds: 2.00Bet €100 to win €2001/1Bet £100 to win £200+100Bet $100 to win $2001.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$2001.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp2001.0000Bet RM100 to win RM200

Cardiff and Leeds to Draw
Tuesday 25th September, 19:45 GMT
Odds: 3.50Bet €100 to win €3505/2Bet £100 to win £350+250Bet $100 to win $3502.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$3502.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp350-0.4000Bet RM100 to win RM350

Nottingham Forest v Fulham – Over 2.5 goals
Tuesday 25th September, 19:45 GMT
Odds: 1.73Bet €100 to win €17373/100Bet £100 to win £173-137Bet $100 to win $1730.73Bet HK$100 to win HK$173-1.37Bet Rp100 to win Rp1730.7300Bet RM100 to win RM173