Aston Villa v Spurs: Can Spurs take full advantage of Arsenal's slip up?
Christmas may be more than seven months away but Arsenal may have gifted rivals Tottenham third place and automatic qualification to the Champions League. The Gunners were held to a point in a six-goal thriller at home to Norwich City and have given Spurs the perfect opportunity to pip their rivals right at the death.
If Spurs beat Aston Villa this afternoon they will go into the final game of the season with their Champions League future in their own hands. However, even though the Villa have endured the season from hell, beating the Villa is easier said than done.
Alex McLeish's men have failed to pick up too many win bonuses this season, but they haven't lost that many. Villa are the draw kings of the Premier League - they have shared the points on 16 occasions - and Arsenal fans will be hoping for that record to remain intact.
Villa have only managed two league wins in the whole of 2012. The first was back at Wolves in January, their last success was 1-0 against Fulham in March. No wonder McLeish is public enemy number one in Birmingham. It was Tottenham who cost him his Premier League status with the Blues on the final day of last season. With Villa still in the middle of a relegation dogfight, surely to God lightening won't strike twice on the former Aberdeen and Scotland international, will it?
Spurs have bounced back following a dip in form that saw them slip out of the top four. Victories over Blackburn and Bolton have given Harry Redknapp's men belief once more and two more wins will seal third place - something that they should have had sewn up a long, long time ago. Spurs will have no fear taking on Villa. They have beaten the Villains in each of their past three meetings. However, Spurs will be wary of their recent record at Villa Park. They have drawn three in their past six visits. A point may be good enough for Villa, but it certainly won't be good enough for Spurs, particularly after Arsenal's recent hiccup.
So will Spurs take advantage of Arsenal's slip-up or will Aston Villa finally end their flirtation with the drop? It's looks as though it could be another bad day at the office for the Villains.
Aston Villa v Spurs; Kick Off 4pm May 6 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Don McMahon |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Blackburn |
Terry Kennedy |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton |
Dave Blackburn |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Liverpool |
Mark Williams |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Man Utd |
Peter Lee |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Newcastle |
Michael Stout |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Norwich City |
Sue Read |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
QPR |
Arjun Swaminathan |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Stoke City |
Philip Eccleston |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Tottenham |
Mike Richards |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Swansea |
Jim White |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Wigan |
Alan Moore |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Wolves |
Chris Cox |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
0 |
V |
3 |
|
Writer |
Phil Bundy |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Matt Turner |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Villa fan |
Lynette Ranson |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Blackpool fan |
Phil Trow |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
1 |
V |
4 |
|
Fulham fan |
Russell Goldman |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Matthew Beeby |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
Panel Verdict
Spurs are tipped to keep on winning.
Home: 4; Draw: 6; Away: 22. TBA 4
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear your views.
