Premier League betting – Chelsea vs Aston Villa

Chelsea vs Aston Villa betting preview

The month of March has been a very indifferent one for Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea team. The comprehensive victory against Stoke in the FA Cup was followed up with a 4-1 hammering of West Ham at Stamford Bridge, which sent them back to the top of the Premier League. However, defeat at the hands of Jose Mourinho’s Inter side in the Champions League sent the West Londoners crashing out of Europe and El-Hadji Diouf’s leveller at Ewood Park last time out, meant it was a case of two points dropped. The Stamford Bridge club now find themselves four points adrift of leaders Manchester United prior to their visit to Portsmouth this evening. Aston Villa travel to London on Saturday and Martin O’Neill will fancy his side’s chances in the midst of the Blues’ mini crisis. The bookies list the Villains at a generous 7/1 to inflict only Chelsea’s second home defeat of the season, Chelsea are a short 2/5 while the draw pays out at 15/4 with Bet365.

Speculation has been rife this week that Ancelotti’s position as manager is under threat but the former AC Milan boss insists such reports are largely untrue. Chelsea fans probably expected more from the Italian in his maiden season in England and a majority would have liked former manager Mourinho to have been sitting in the opposite dug-out when his Inter Milan side won at the Bridge last week.

Many feel Chelsea’s title challenge has slipped by the wayside following the disappointing draw at Blackburn on Sunday and the consistent good form of rivals Manchester United and Arsenal. Carlo Ancelotti men travel to the South-Coast this evening in the Premier League, with the Italian declaring it as a must-win game. Arguably, anything less than three points against cash strapped Pompey and the Blues faithful can wave another goodbye to the Premier League crown.

Ground may have been lost in the title race but the FA Cup still remains a distinct possibility where they will face Saturday’s opponents in the semi-finals.

Martin O’Neill’s Villa side have already accounted for Chelsea this season when the pair met in October. That day, Villa came from a goal down to record a 2-1 success at Villa Park. The Midlands club will travel for Saturday’ reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge hoping to become only the second side to leave there with all three points this season. MO’N will have watched videos of Man City’s 4-2 success at the end of last month and he will be hoping his troops can replicate Roberto Mancini’s men and complete a famous double over Chelsea. However, Villa’s disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Wolves last Saturday did nothing in their race to claim fourth. O’Neill’s football philosophy will mean his side will not be parking the bus in front of Brad Friedel’s goal, they will have the intention of collecting all three points come 3pm on Saturday.

John Carew’s brace against Wolves makes him a generous 11/1 shout to open the scoring on Saturday. Chelsea’s leading marksmen is the favourite to break the deadlock at 11/4 with SkyBet while French strike partner Nicolas Anelka can be snapped up at 9/2. Expect there to be goals in this one, Turnbull and Hilario have stepped in for the injured Petr Cech but Chelsea haven’t kept a clean sheet in three matches so snap up the 7/10 being offered for Villa to breach Chelsea’s leaky backline.

The first goal is all important in this one, if Villa can get it Chelsea will have to go chasing the game and Villa swiftness on the counter can exploit Ancelotti’s men. Conversely, if the Blues’ get it, there could be an onslaught which so many team have fell victim to this season.

Betting Verdict

Chelsea to win 1-0 at 13/2 with Victor Chandler

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