Aston Villa to escape relegation hell with victory over Hull

Claret is a colour that, in good times, you associate with a fine red wine, but the reality is that, going into this home encounter with Hull, it’s been anything but a vintage season for Aston Villa.

Instead, a different kind of claret could be shed if the Midlands club suffers defeat here, and it’s a bloody kind that may leave the Villans with the stain of Premier League relegation.

Hull have been poor on the road of late though, with just one point from the last nine available making them less Tigers and more your average, everyday house cats.

But while the 21/10 on an away win should be avoided, those backing the Yorkshire tabbies to get their claws out could opt for the 9/4 offered on a draw, particularly as Paul Lambert’s team are in no great shape either.

Hull fought back from 2-0 down away to Fulham last week, and are all too happy to be survival party-poopers, as February wins over fellow strugglers Cardiff and Sunderland also suggests.

Nikica Jelavic has been the pooper-in-chief for the Tigers, with four goals in their last four and the Croat is 6/1 to open the scoring against Villa with 15/8 offered on a goal at anytime.

But history is on Villa’s side, with the Clarets boasting the kind of superior head-to-head record that make this, on paper at least, appear something of a David and Goliath contest.

And if there is one giant among the Villa team who can deliver a goal, it’s Gabby Agbonlahor, with the pacey forward fresh from finding the net in Villa’s 4-1 drubbing at Swansea.

The 27-year-old was a scorer when the Clarets last tasted victory over Hull and at 6/1 to score first or 15/8 to get a goal at anytime, is too good to ignore.

With Hull coming into this game off the back of three games featuring over 2.5 total goals and four of the last six Villa games boasting the same, those fearful of a bottom-of-the-table rollercoaster can at least rely on a return in the over 2.5 goals market with Ladbrokes offering 11/10.

Now I will drink to that – not red wine though. I’m more of a rose kind of guy.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.