Aston Villa vs Fulham Prediction: Premier League | 04/04/2021

Aston Villa vs Fulham Prediction

Aston Villa vs Fulham

Aston Villa remain in European qualification contention despite losing to Tottenham last time out after failing to register a single shot before HT – the first time they’ve done that in a home league game for seven years! The goals have dried up during their longest winless run of this Premier League (PL) campaign (D2, L2), a streak that saw them average a paltry 0.25 goals per game, and they now haven’t netted 2+ goals for ten PL matches (W3, D3, L4).

 

Enduring their second sequence of at least three home league games without a win this term (D1, L2), three out of four goals conceded therein came between the 15th and 30th minute. Therefore, a good start would help the ‘Villans’, who’ve won all five home league matches in which they scored first this term – four ‘to nil’.

 

Despite three defeats in four league games for relegation zone residents Fulham (W1), survival remains possible as they start the round just two points behind 17th place. Encouragingly, although the all-time PL H2H is against them (W6, D11, L10), they hold the advantage across the last nine competitive meetings (W6, L3).

 

Whilst Villa’s 3-0 win in September’s reverse fixture has them hunting a first league double since 2009/10, Fulham are unbeaten in eight away league matches (W2, D6) and will fancy themselves here. After all, the ‘Cottagers’ have collected 61.54% of their PL points away from home and are unbeaten in 60% of PL away matches entered as outsiders this term.

 

Players to score: Bernard Traoré has scored in three of Villa’s last seven home league matches – four of his five PL strikes this term came after the 40th minute. Meanwhile, all four of Ademola Lookman’s (FUL) league goals this season were match openers.

 

Hot stat: Villa’s PL win-rate with Jack Grealish in the side is 50% (W11, D3, L8), but just 16.67% when he doesn’t feature (W1, D2, L3).

 

Prediction: Aston Villa [2] vs [1] Fulham