Aston Villa – Birmingham SOCCER PICKS
Aston Villa and Birmingham City meet at Villa Park, in a match for the 18th round of the Championship. The history of direct confrontations played in this stadium is favorable to the home team, which in the last 3 matches won 3. Indeed, the last time these two teams played a game in this stadium, on 02-11-2018, to the Championship, Aston Villa won by (2-0). A. Adomah (60 ‘) and C. Hourihane (81’) scored the goals for Aston Villa. The Birmingham City presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor, so in this game the home factor may be decisive.
Aston Villa:
The home team is currently in the 11 th position, with 24 points won, after 6 wins, 6 draws and 5 losses. In the penultimate match, they won in a home match against Bolton Wanderers, by (2-0). In the last match, they won in an away match against Derby County, by (0-3). This is a team that usually maintains its competitive level in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 7 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses in away matches; against 7 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses at their stadium. In the last 8 home league matches Aston Villa has a record of 4 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss, so they have won 15 points out of 24 possible. In their home league matches the most frequent result at half-time was the 1-0 (3 out of 8 matches). Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 17 matches in this competition, they have only won 1 of the 7 matches in which they have conceded the first goal. There is 1 period that stands out in the last 9 home matches for all competitions: they have suffered 4 of their 10 goals between minutes (76′-90 ‘).
Aston Villa enter this game motivated, after an away win, by 0-3, against Derby County, thus registering the second victory in this competition followed: McGinn, Hourihane and Abraham scored the goals of the game. Despite being in the middle of the table, the great objective of the premises will be to finish in the first positions of the competition. The trainer Dean Smith usually acts in a traditional 4-2-3-1, privileging a style of game more rapid, of constant transitions, attacking, preferably, by the lateral corridors. It should be noted that in this tactical drawing, the three most advanced players are Kodjia, Adomah and Abraham: the latter is the best score of Aston Villa, with 5 goals scored. Out of this game will be Bjarnason and Taylor, both with physical problems.
Birmingham City:
After 5 wins, 9 draws and 3 losses, the away team is currently in the 12 th position of the league, with 24 points won. In the penultimate match, they lost in an away match against Derby County, by (3-1). In the last match, they tied in a home match against Hull City, by (3-3). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 3 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses in away matches, with 13 goals scored and 22 conceded; against 7 wins and 8 draws in their stadium, with 25 goals scored and 15 suffered. For the league, won 9 points out of 24 possible points, after 2 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses in the last 8 away matches. In their away league matches the most frequent result at half-time was the 0-0 (3 out of 9 matches). The team has conceded goals in 8 of the last 10 matches, so it has not presented great defensive solidity, but their offense has scored consistently, as they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their home matches there is a tendency for few goals, since 4 of the last 8 matches for this competition have ended with Under 1,5 goals. In 17 matches in this tournament, they have conceded the first goal 4 times and have only won 1 result. There are 2 periods that stand out in the last 10 away matches for all competitions: he scored 3 of his 7 goals between the minutes (16’-30 ‘); He suffered 4 of his 11 goals between the minutes (61’-75 ‘).
Birmingham City enters this day with a draw, 3-3, in the reception to Hull City, thus adding the second consecutive game without beating in this competition: Adams was the great hero, scoring all three goals. It should be noted that visitors record only 2 wins in 8 games played away from home. Unlike the rival of this round, Birmingham City usually acts in a 4-4-2, in which the two most advanced players are Adams and Jutkiewicz. The visiting club, when it invests in the offensive process, usually does so through the left flank, taking advantage of the depth offered by the Mahoney end. For this game the coach does not have the injured Davis and Vassell.
