Aston Villa vs Sheff Utd Prediction: Back the hosts to extend home hot streak

Premier League high-flyers Aston Villa will look to continue their ascension up the table when they welcome Sheffield United to Villa Park on Friday night (20:00).

Victories over Man City and Arsenal have propelled Villa into the Champions League race, and whisper it quietly, but maybe the title race. Meanwhile, the Blades are looking to build on the win against Brentford, which was Chris Wilder's first victory in charge since his return to the club.

Team News

Robin Olsen and Bertrand Traore are ruled out for the hosts, while Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings are still on the long road to recovery from knee surgery.

Boubacar Kamara is suspended after being sent off against Brentford, but Douglas Luiz and Lucas Digne are set to return from bans.

As for visitors, Chris Basham, Rhys Norrington-Davies, John Egan, Tom Davies, Daniel Jebbison, Jack Robinson and Rhian Brewster are all unavailable.

Match Odds

Villa are unsurprisingly favourites to win at 2/11 after their impressive run of form at Villa Park, while Sheffield United are 14/1 to make it back-to-back wins, and the draw is priced up at 6/1.

Both teams to score can be backed at even money, and over 2.5 goals is 4/9.

Aston Villa to win to nil @ 9/10

Aston Villa have rattled off 15 consecutive home wins in the Premier League and produced a number of impressive performances that spell trouble for Sheffield United.

Unai Emery's side have beaten Arsenal and Manchester City to nil in their last two home outings, and the Villans hold the only perfect home record in the division.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United are the polar opposite - they have lost to nil in three of their last four matches, as well as losing seven of their eight away games this term.

Everything points towards an emphatic home win and a clean sheet on Friday night.

Ollie Watkins to score first @ 5/2

Ollie Watkins is the standout candidate to score here, and I've opted for first goalscorer rather than anytime, for increased value.

The England international has scored 11 goals for Aston Villa this season including the winner at Brentford last time out, meaning he has found the net in five of his last seven appearances for the Villans.

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