Premier League: Villa’s Top Four Push Heads to Luton

Luton Town vs Aston Villa

Points will be priceless at Kenilworth Road on Saturday when Premier League: Luton Town vs Aston Villa brings together two teams with a whole lot to play for.

The hosts are in a relegation battle and fighting for their lives while their visitors need the points to keep their top four target well on track. Rob Edward’s Luton took a 2-6 FA Cup thumping at the hands of Manchester City on Tuesday while Villa had a midweek break after beating Nottingham Forest 4-2 last weekend.

This could be a pivotal game for both teams. Luton are in the bottom three and a defeat on Saturday could spell serious trouble, while a victory may reduce the gap to 17^th place to a single point. But the pre match Luton Town vs Aston Villa betting odds back an away win and Unai Emery’s Villains can strengthen their grip on a Champions League place with a victory.

And with an extra few days to prepare, Emery has a clear advantage.    

Talking Points

Battered Luton must pick themselves up and go again

The Hatters were totally slaughtered by Manchester City on Tuesday night and, even though Edwards has instilled a superb team spirit and work ethic into the band of brothers, the 100 minutes they endured against the Sky Blues must have taken its toll. Jordan Clark scored Luton’s two goals, the first a beauty, but the respite was temporary as City simply ripped the hosts’ defence to shreds.

Luton have scored in nine consecutive games, so there is no lack of confidence up front, but they have conceded 19 goals in their last five games and they are clearly missing defensive rock Tom Lockyer. The skipper is a long term absentee, since he collapsed during the Hatters’ game away to Bournemouth in December. Thankfully Lockyer is on the mend, but he is joined by other key players on the sidelines, including Mads Anderson, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Marvelous Makamba.  

Midfield general Ross Barkley will relish the chance to meet up with the last Premier League club he represented. He flopped at Villa and has re-invented himself at Luton and he is the Hatters’ key man in their fight for survival.

The reduction in Everton’s points penalty, from ten points to six, has temporarily put Luton in greater peril. But Edward’s boys will carry on fighting, because there could well be more penalties heading the way of Everton and Nottingham Forest at the end of the campaign.   

Villa’s happy travels

While victory over Nottingham Forest ended a run of three home defeats, Aston Villa have had no such problems on the road where they have beaten Fulham 1-2 and Sheffield United 0-5 while drawing away to Chelsea over the past three trips. Put that run together with the fact that the Hatters have shipped 11 goals in their last three home games and we have a big chance for Emery’s team to keep their run going. Douglas Luiz scored twice in the win over Nottingham Forest and Leon Bailey made it four; but a fourth minute opener for Ollie Watkins made it 14 goals for the campaign for the England man and that means only Erling Haaland and Mo Salah have scored more.

Watkins leads a fluid attack which, as the Blades defence discovered, is razor sharp while at the back, the return of Pau Torres against Forest was short lived as the Spanish centre back was replaced at half time; but Emery says this was a precautionary measure and Villa’s best defender should be available to start against the Hatters’ dangerous front line.     

Fifth placed Tottenham are at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday and the Whites’ fans will be watching the Luton Town vs Aston Villa results with interest; but I suspect the Londoners will be disappointed.

History

Luton have won two of the three meetings with the Villains, a friendly and a Carabao Cup win in 2016; but Villa won the league meeting this season, 3-1 with goals from John McGinn, Moussa Diaby and an own goal from Lockyer, while a ricochet off Keeper Emiliano Martinez gave the Hatters a consolation.    

Luton have lost their last four games while Villa come into the match with back-to-back wins and recent form points us to another win on the road for Emery. 

Betting Tip

Luton are definitely in this game at SBOTOP odds of 3.55, while Villa are priced at 1.74 and the draw is at 3.56. All the evidence, form, squad fitness and preparation time favours the visitors; and another 3-1 scoreline to Villa is available at 11.36.

 

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