Premier League: This West Mids Derby is a Belter!

Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolves fans will make the 20-mile trip down the M6 to Birmingham on Saturday to watch their team take on top-four chasing Aston Villa in a West Midlands rumble.

Both clubs have rich histories in the game, which always makes Premier League: Aston Villa vs Wolves a special occasion. The Villains were the undisputed kings of football at the end of the 19^th century, winning the league six times, and they were champions again as recently as 1981.

Wolves’ heyday was in the 1950s, when they won the top flight title three times, and, while both teams have spent time outside the top flight very recently, they are once again among the top ten clubs in the land. 

For much of the 2023–24 campaign, Aston Villa were well in touch with the leaders, but it’s now a three-horse race at the top, and Unai Emery’s team occupies that coveted fourth place.Meanwhile,e Gary O’Neil has done a fine job at Wolves; his side were one of the pre-season favourites for the drop, but they sit comfortably in ninth place and only three points behind West Ham United in seventh. 

Villa come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw away to West Ham, while Wolves went down to a shock FA Cup defeat to Championship side Coventry City last time out, and both will be eyeing all three points when they meet at Villa Park on Saturday. 

Talking Points

No Cash for Villa

Right back Matty Cash was a casualty of Poland’s successful Euro 2024 play-off campaign when he was forced off during the 5-1 win over Estonia with a muscle strain. Emery is expected to make a decision on the player before the weekend, but he looks very doubtful.

Cash is a threat going forward as well as being a key man in defence, and his absence is compounded by the fact that wide man John McGinn is sidelined as he sits out a three-match suspension. McGinn was red carded in the recent match against Spurs, and he will also sit out Villa’s game against Manchester City. As captain and one of Villa’s most dangerous players, he will be sorely missed.

Emery is likely to call on Ezro Konsa to fill in for Cash, and there may also be a return for Diego Carlos, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, and he is in line to partner Pau Torres at centre back. 

Any fears that Ollie Watkins might be a doubt have been quashed by the striker’s ten-minute cameo during England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium on Tuesday, and he is sure to start. With 16 goals and ten assists, Watkins has worked his way into Euro 2024 contention and has pushed Villa towards the Champions League. 

At the other end of the pitch, keeper Emi Martinez made his 150^th appearance in all competitions for Villa in the clash with West Ham just before the break, and he will be the last line of defence against Wolves. The Argentine World Cup winner has become a folk hero at Villa Park, and his presence gives the Villains’ defence more confidence. 

Cunha hopeful for Wolves

Wolves have a few injury problems of their own, but there could be good news for centre forward Matheus Cunha, who has been training well this week and looks set for a return. The Brazilian has made a quicke- than-expected recovery from a hamstring strain and is in contention to start against Villa.

Cunha stepped up during the absence of top scorer Hwang Hee Chan when the South Korean was at the Asian Cup, and now that Hwang has picked up an injury, Cunha will be the main man again.

O’Neil has another problem in terms of the supply of chances, as Pedro Neto, who has made nine assists, has suffered a hamstring injury, and he could be out until May. But there is better news from midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who is making a good recovery from a knee injury, and he could be available. 

History

This is a superb rivalry, and the head-to-head Aston Villa vs Wolves results are beautifully balanced, with eight wins each and eight draws over the past two decades. The two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the return match at Molineux as Torres scored the equaliser for Villa. So expect tight Premier League 2024 results from these outfits during their clash on Saturday.

Both teams are in good form; the Villains have won three, drawn two, and lost one of the last six, while Wolves have won four and lost two. The Premier League 2024 betting odds are backing a home win, but with two teams full of confidence, all three results are well in play. 

Betting Tip

Aston Villa are at SBOTOP odds of 1.62 to win this match, with Wolves at 4.41 and the draw at 3.89. Both teams are missing players, and I can see a tight game, with Villa the favourites to nick an odd goal in three.

 

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