Bournemouth vs Aston Villa Prediction: Will Villa lay down for the Holy Iraola?

Andoni Iraola’s quietly-efficient Bournemouth take on Unai Emery’s sort-of title contenders Aston Villa this Saturday, February 7. Neither team will thank me for drawing attention to their standout attribute. The Cherries are quite happy to do the little things well and hold on to a manager who has attracted admiring glances from Old Trafford. Meanwhile, seasoned Villans are the first to tell you they were never in the title race in the first place so it’s FINE that they won’t win it now, honestly.

I mean maybe they will. Manchester City are no longer Manchester City and short of chucking the ball straight into the net from a throw-in, surely Mikel Arteta doesn’t have any more set-piece chicanery up his sleeve. Anyway, Bournemouth vs Villa predictions wasn’t it? Sound.

Team News

Bournemouth come into this clash harbouring several absentees. Tyler Adams is expected to be out for another month with a knee injury. Summer recruit Ben Gannon-Doak misses out with a hamstring problem while Marcus Tavernier is carrying a muscle injury.

Forward Justin Kluivert is expected to miss several months with a knee injury while Wales international David Brooks faces a late fitness test.

Premier League Odds

Doubts over Ollie Watkins’ fitness could open the door for returnee Tammy Abraham to start for the second game in a row. Fellow Villa prodigal son Douglas Luiz will likely feature, too.

While there is a chance Watkins will start up top, midfielders Youri Tielemans and John McGinn remain on the injured list. Joining them is long-term absentee Boubacar Kamara.

Bournemouth vs Aston Villa Odds

The home side are 13/8 to beat Emery’s men on Saturday. Villa are on the market at 6/4 for the victory while the draw is priced at 11/4.

Junior Kroupi is 9/2 to score the first goal of the game. Villa are 13/5 for a clean sheet.

Bournemouth to win @ 7/4

Losing two of their last three games, coupled with Arsenal grinding Leeds into a fine paste, has probably put a bullet in fanciful talk of an Aston Villa title. Of course, Emery’s men have still been tremendous. If they remain in their current third-place, it will be the Midlands side’s best league finish since 1992-93.

But there can be an ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ feel when title talk dissipates. Bournemouth away is not the fixture you’d circle on the calendar to get you out of that malaise.

Iraola’s crew have won three of their last four, including swash-buckling 3-2 wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. Speculation about the manager’s potential suitability for a move to Old Trafford has not knocked the Cherries off their stride at all.

I think a home side in fine fettle can triumph over a club who were recently reminded that, for the vast majority of the Premier League, qualifying for the Champions League is the ceiling.

Over 3.5 total goals @ 7/4

Bournemouth do some of their best work in goal-fest games. Like the aforementioned brace of recent 3-2 wins or that arcade game of a 4-4 at Old Trafford. 

Equally, their tendency to ship goals can cost the Cherries. Sunderland and Arsenal hold 3-2 victories over Bournemouth this season. Today’s visitors Villa walloped them 4-0 back in November.

I reckon the goals will flow in this one. Bournemouth supporters will just have to pray it is one of those days where their team scores one more than the opposition.

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