Aston Villa VS Fulham Match Prediction

Fulham and Aston Villa, surprisingly, have a fairly brief history of just 51 games played so far between.  It has been tight through them, though, with Villa winning one more game (18) than Fulham.  This season's two meetings both went to the home side, suggesting this could be a very tight affair. Here's a look at the last five results:   

Feb 17, 2018: Fulham 2-0 Villa
Oct 21, 2017: Villa 2-1 Fulham
Apr 17, 2017: Fulham 3-1 Villa  
Oct 22, 2016: Villa 1-0 Fulham  
Apr 4, 2014: Villa 1-2 Fulham (PL)

Aston Villa vs Fulham Betting Tips and Odds

Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:

Fulham are at 12/5 to win, a draw is at 21/10, and an Aston Villa win is at 5/4.

In the regular season of the Championship, these two teams would finish in third and fourth.  In purist terms, this is the playoff final that we all deserve.  Wolves and Cardiff got promotion, as the best two teams in the division, but these two were not far behind them at all.  Fulham started out their season slowly, but once they got to their feet, they were lights out to say the least.  Over the last 30 games, they were the best team in the league by far.  Their third place finish is no shock.  As for Villa, they always looked like one of the best teams in the league without ever quite challenging for the top two.  They were outsiders in that battle at best, but they have been very solid and have lot of experience in the big time, so it's no shock to see them finish in fourth place.

Sessegnon to score anytime is set at 19/10 via Ladbrokes.  

Aston Villa vs Fulham Prediction

Fulham's momentum has slowed down a little bit right at the end of the season, but they have gotten here due to an incredible run that took them out of the mid-table picture and into third.  That style should see them control the game and get one over on Aston Villa.

Correct Score Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Fulham

Team News

Steve Bruce also appears set to have a full team to pick from, which is not something he has been able to do a whole lot of, particularly as it stands up front. It will be interesting to see who he goes with to lead the line, but we expect to see Lewis Grabban keeping his place along with most of the team from the aggregate win over Derby County.

Key Man

Fulham might be all about youth and exuberance, and that has served them very well in this long campaign, but in Aston Villa they have their opposite.  Villa are about experience and trying to use it to win by any way possible.  And just as Sessegnon symbolizes Fulham, Villa are symbolized by John Terry.  The former Chelsea man is long in the tooth now, but his know-how in these huge situations is massive. He is not only going to be asked to make good plays against young stars and the huge tree-like Mitrovic, but he could also be a big factor in the box attacking corners and free kicks.

Team Form

Aston Villa have two draws, two wins, and a loss in their last five matches:

0-0 home draw vs Middlesbrough (Playoffs)
0-1 win at Middlesbrough (Playoffs)
1-0 loss at Millwall
1-1 home draw vs Derby County
0-4 win at Ipswich

Aston Villa Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 4-5-1

Team News

Slavisa Jokanovic has the best possible news ahead of this match, and that is that he has a full side to select from for this match with so much at stake.  We expect him to remain with the same team that got him here, keeping in a 4-3-3 with the same personnel.

Key Man

8 year old Ryan Sessegnon- he'll be 18 when the game starts- has been utterly exciting and amazing this season.  The English youngster was superb last season at just 16 years old, but he's taken it up a notch this term and will be linked with all kinds of clubs now.  He can play left back, or on the wing, but it's his explosive goal scoring and creative play that will draw the attention of clubs from all around.  He scored 15 times in the season, and he led the charge to this final with his performance in the second leg win over Derby County.  His goal and assist sent them through, and you can't back against him now.

Team Form

Fulham have three wins and two losses in their last five matches:

2-0 home win vs Derby County (Playoffs)
1-0 loss at Derby County (Playoffs)
3-1 loss at Birmingham City
2-1 home win vs Sunderland  
0-3 win at Millwall

Fulham Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 4-3-3

This Playoff Final is about as 'chalk' as you can get. The hottest team from the Championship's last few months meets the side that has spent more money than almost anyone as Fulham take on Aston Villa for a place back in the Premier League. Both teams are nearly equal, and they each have excellent managers. With that said, form has to count for something. And that form side is Fulham. The young talent they have should just edge it and get the Craven Cottage faithful back to the big time.

Fulham have lost two of their last three matches after they have gone 23 unbeaten in the Championship.