Wycombe vs Aston Villa Prediction: Duran at the double in rare start

After losing 2-1 at home to Everton in the Carabao Cup third round last year, Unai Emery will be targeting his first win in the competition with Aston Villa on Tuesday (20:00, Sky Sports Main Event) when they face League 1 side Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park.

Read below for my Wycombe vs Aston Villa prediction and all the latest team news ahead of the pick of Tuesday's third-round ties.

Team News

Wycombe began the season with three defeats in their first four games but have recovered superbly, winning five of their next six, and head into Tuesday's contest unbeaten since a 1-0 EFL Trophy loss at AFC Wimbledon on August 20.

The Chairboys beat Cambridge United 2-1 at Adams Park on Saturday but head coach Matt Bloomfield could still make changes to his starting XI for the visit of Villa.

Luke Leahy and David Wheeler are both close to returning to the squad after their respective injuries, but Gideon Kodua, Sam Vokes, Ryan Tafazolli and Nathan Bishop are all still sidelined.

Football Odds

Emery is expected to make sweeping changes to his starting XI for the trip to Adams Park. Joe Gauci could make his Villa debut after joining from Adelaide United in January, with summer signings Kosta Nedeljkovic and Ian Maatsen lining up at full-back. It's too soon for Tyrone Mings to return from his long-term injury so Diego Carlos should be nailed on to start alongside either Ezri Konsa or Pau Torres.

In midfield, Ross Barkley will get his second stint full debut after re-joining the club in July, and 20-year-old Lamare Bogarde, who has recently been covering for Matty Cash at right-back, will hope to get the nod alongside the Englishman in a more familiar position.

Emiliano Buendia spent nearly a year on the sidelines but returned to fitness in pre-season and after three brief cameos against Everton, Young Boys and Wolves, could start under Emery for the first time since May 13, 2023.

Leon Bailey hasn't been named in a starting XI since the 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal last month but played the duration of the second half on Saturday as Villa came from a goal down to beat Wolves 3-1, and the Jamaican winger looks set to get the nod on Tuesday.

Jaden Philogene is injured, however, while John McGinn also looks likely to miss out after coming off with an issue at Molineux.

Jhon Duran has been in sensational form this term, scoring four times from the bench, and should be rewarded with his first Villa start of the season at Adams Park.

Wycombe vs Aston Villa Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Wycombe vs Aston Villa page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Wycombe are 8/1 to win inside regulation time, giving them an implied win probability of 11.1%, while Aston Villa are 2/7, or a 77.8% chance, to make it five wins in a row following victories over Leicester City, Everton, Young Boys and Wolves.

The draw, which would send the tie to penalties, is available at 4/1, and both teams to score is priced at 4/5.

Villa's Ollie Watkins (19/20) is favourite in the anytime scorer market, followed by teammate Duran (21/20), who is 7/2 to strike first on Tuesday.

Richard Kone, who has scored three times for Wycombe this season, is considered the Chairboys' most likely anytime scorer at 16/5.

Player to Score Two or More Goals - Jhon Duran @ 6/1

The man of the moment - Duran just can't stop scoring for Villa this season.

The Colombian has been a substitute in all six of Villa's matches but has made his mark in pretty much all of them, scoring winners against West Ham United, Leicester and Everton before netting the final goal of the game in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Wolves.

Duran deserves an opportunity to start, and it has to come on Tuesday. Watkins is likely to be rested - at least from the beginning - with a trip to Ipswich Town coming up on Sunday, opening up a space for the 20-year-old to fill.

He's shown so far that when he is given a chance, he will take it, so Wycombe defenders will have to be on their toes at Adams Park.

Duran needed less than 33 minutes to score against West Ham, Leicester, Everton and Wolves, while he had a terrific strike against Young Boys ruled out 18 minutes after coming on, so who knows how many he can net from the start against a side two divisions below Villa?

Of course, football isn't played on paper, and bagging a brace won't be a simple task, but Duran is a confident player who will be desperate to prove to Emery that he should be starting instead of, or alongside, Watkins.

I'm taking 6/1 on a Duran double all day long here.

To Score in Both Halves - Aston Villa @ 5/6

Villa have been in the goals this season, netting 13 across their first six games in all competitions and only blanking in defeat to Arsenal.

They've scored twice against both West Ham and Leicester and have struck three past their last three opponents - Everton, Young Boys and Wolves.

Emery's side have scored in both halves on four occasions this term - against West Ham, Leicester, Everton and Young Boys, while Wycombe have conceded in both halves four times in 2024/25.

The visitors are unlikely to be playing their strongest side but with Duran, Bailey and Buendia there should still be plenty of firepower and creativity in their starting XI, with the likes of Watkins and Morgan Rogers to come off the bench if needs be. At close to EVS, backing the Villans to net in both halves looks like a strong second selection.

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