Tim Sherwood was hired by Aston Villa (10-8-18, 38 Points) with one goal and one goal only in mind: Keep the Villains in the Premier League for another season. He can accomplish that goal on Saturday morning if he can lead his team to three points at Southampton (17-6-13, 57 Points).
ODDS ANALYSIS
However, for Villa to win this match, it is going to have to defy a lot of odds. The team is a 5 to 1 underdog to get the three point necessary to guarantee survival for another season.
More likely would be a Southampton win. The Saints are set at -140 on the moneyline, while the total has been lined at 2.5 (under -120).
KEY INJURIES
There's not a lot new to report on the injury front for Southampton. The Saints won't have Dusan Tadic in this match, while Morgan Schneiderlin leads a group of four others out for the season.
Ciaran Clark, Nathan Baker and Libor Kozak are all in question for Aston Villa, though more likely than not, none of the three are going to make the cut for Sherwood's side on Saturday.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I talked to them about complacency today, but I didn't see it. I saw a very open, attacking performance, and then I saw a really professional one in the second period. They are marrying it all together, and there seems to be a real maturity growing. I'm pleased for them." – Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood following a 1-0 win over West Ham last weekend which probably ensured safety for next season
RECENT FORM
The Saints have had problems against relegation strugglers of late. They were beaten on the road by both Leicester City and Sunderland in the last two weeks, and they have now gone four matches with just one point to their credit in totality.
Villa has won its last three home matches and has won four of its last five overall, which has gotten it out of the relegation zone and into clear safety. Still, on the road, there haven't been many results to speak of, though a 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane will go a long way towards helping the Villains stay safe for 2015-16.
TALKING TOTALS
Southampton really has to sure up its problems at the back. These issues have really been around since losing Fraser Forster for the season. Soton has allowed exactly two goals in four straight matches, and not surprisingly, three of the four duels have coasted past the total.
Aston Villa struggled scoring goals for most of the season, but all of a sudden since Sherwood has gotten the job, it has gotten the ball in the back of the net a ton. The Villains have scored eight goals in their last four games overall, and they have pushed three of those four games past the total.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The problem we see with Southampton right now is a lack of purpose on the pitch. There is clearly something to fight for, as the team can make a European appearance next year in the Europa Cup if it can just find a way to draw one point back over Tottenham in the next couple weeks.
However, we just don't see it out of the Saints. Aston Villa played one of its best matches of the season last weekend, and it could do the same in this one as well.
At best, Southampton could eke out a draw in this one, so we certainly fancy taking the +0.5 on the Asian handicap. An SU victory for the visitors to ensure safety isn't out of the question either.
Aston Villa 2, Southampton 1
The English Premier League lines for this contest were first released by BookMaker Sportsbook with Southampton lined as a -140 moneyline favorite and a total of 2.5 (under -120). Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, spreads and totals. Live betting is open during every step of this match!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet. Click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The fixture between Southampton and Aston Villa is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 7:45 a.m. ET at St. Mary's Stadium. The match will be televised live on NBC Sports Network.
