Lee Dixon: Villa's relegation fightback starts on Sunday!

 

The threat of relegation haunts Aston Villa and they must start winning soon, says Lee Dixon, who predicts a welcome turnaround in the home team's fortunes on  Sunday...

 

Last weekend's spirited performance at Everton will give this young Villa squad some much needed confidence and there are few better opportunities to build on that  than a home game against West Ham.

 

Two wins away from Upton Park in the league suggest the Hammers are a soft touch, though you could say that about Villa who cannot beat that total from 12 home games.

 

Nevertheless, I fancy them to build on that morale-boosting effort at Goodison Park with a third Premier League victory in front of the Villa Park faithful. The near  miss at Everton was painful yet encouraging and there are definite signs of life among Paul Lambert's relegation-threatened side. I think it could be the spring board  they need to put together a good run and beat the drop.

 

With games against Arsenal and Manchester City to follow, Villa really need to break that eight-game winless streak in the league. The Opta stats offer hope - West Ham  have taken just one point from the last 21 available on the road and scored just five goals in their last nine games away from home in the Premier League.

 

Villa's home scoring record - nine goals in the league - is little better than West Ham's on the road, but while the stats could persuade you to back the 0-0 it's not  a bet for me. In fact, I think it's time we went over 2.5 goals as I see the home side scoring at least two goals with Christian Benteke and co. looking sprightly in attack.

 

West Ham have been woeful in front of goal and I see that continuing even with Andy Carroll back on goalscoring form last time out. Sam Allardyce's men look relatively  safe in 11th place but Villa need to get a wriggle on if they're to beat the drop. That urgency must transmit to the team and Sunday afternoon could see the start of  an end of season fightback.

 

Benteke has been Villa's main man in recent matches but I'm a big fan of Andreas Weimann who will be a bigger price than his strike partner in the To Score market.  Let's back him to hit his fifth of the season as Villa pull off their third home win of the season.

 

Recommended Bets

Back over 2.5 goals @ 2.02

Back Villa to win 2-1 @ 11.0 and 3-1 @ 26.0

Back Andreas Weimann to score (if he starts)

 

Bet HERE

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