Aston Villa v Preston – Predictions, Team News & Preview

Aston Villa v Preston – Predictions, Team News & Preview

Aston Villa vs Preston North End
Sky Bet Championship 2016/17
21st January, 15:00 GMT
Villa Park, Birmingham

Aston Villa Team News & Preview

Aston Villa will look to stop their current rot when Preston visit Villa Park. Villa have lost their last three games in all competitions, but all of them were away games at Cardiff, Spurs in the FA Cup, and Wolves. They have to get back on track on Saturday to close the gap on the play-offs places.

Steve Bruce`s side sit 13^th in the Championship table, ten points behind Sheffield Wednesday in the final play-off spot. Making the play-offs is a minimum aim for Villa this season – pre-season predictions had Villa one of the favourites to get promoted, although as history has shown it’s not always that straightforward for freshly relegated sides.

Forward Jonathan Kodjia is with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations. Villa have missed their top-scorer dearly, having failed to score a single goal so far in 2017. Jordan Ayew is also on international duty. Micah Richards, Ritchie De Laet, and Jed Steer are injury absentees.

Predicted Aston Villa line-up (4-4-1-1): Johnstone, Hutton, Elphick, Chester, Amavi, Adomah, Jedinak, Tshibola, Grealish, McCormack, Agbonlahor.

Preston North End Team News & Preview

Preston are on the back of last weekend`s fine 2-0 win over high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion, and they will visit Villa Park in a bid to inflict a second defeat on Villa this season. Simon Grayson`s men defeated Villa 2-0 in October when Roberto Di Matteo was still in charge at Villa Park.

The Lilywhites are five points off the play-offs places, and a win on Saturday could see them close the gap on Sheffield Wednesday should the Owls drop points at Brighton.

The last time the two sides met at Villa Park, Aston Villa ran out 5-0 winners in the League Cup way back in 2002. Striker Jermaine Beckford is suspended, while the rest of the squad is available for selection for Preston.

Predicted Preston North End line-up (4-4-2): Maxwell, Vermijl, Clarke, Huntington, Cunningham, Gallagher, Brown, Horgan, McGeady, Robinson, Hugill.

Aston Villa vs Preston North End Key Stats

No team in the Championship has drawn more games this season than Villa, who have shared points in 11 matches.

Preston have only failed to score in 19% of their Championship matches this term.

Villa haven`t scored a single goal in 2017.

Aston Villa vs Preston North End Predictions & Betting Tips

Preston have identical home and away records this season, hence they will prove to be tough opponents for the Claret and Blues. Furthermore, half of Villa`s matches at home have ended in draws, hence a score draw should be a good bet.

Preston striker Callum Robinson is in good form at the moment, having scored twice and assisted once in his last three games. Expect the former Villa man to score another goal on Saturday.

Aston Villa vs Preston North End Prediction

Considering Villa`s miserly form in front of goal and the absence of Kodjia and Ayew, goalscoring could be a problem for Bruce`s side. That having been said, Villa Park is always a tough place to visit, hence a draw is on the cards, with Villa opening their account for this calendar year.

Aston Villa 1-1 Preston North End