Former Aston Villa striker Chris Sutton has given his prediction on Aston Villa’s home clash against Burnley today.
After such an incredible start to the season, Aston Villa were due a mini blip at some point.
The Villans were riding on a crest after recording consecutive 1-0 victories over Manchester City and Arsenal in the Premier League.
Although they propelled themselves into the title race with that win, their last two results have sent Unai Emery’s side crashing back down to earth.
Villa weren’t at the races in their home fixture against bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United and had to rely on Nicolo Zaniolo to snatch a point late on from the bench.
In the following, the Villans looked on course for a big three points when they took on Manchester United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.
John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker gave them a two-goal lead after the first 45 minutes but things didn’t go as planned in the second half as an Alejandro Garnacho double and a Rasmus Hojlund winner turned the game on its head.
Despite this recent blip, Villa are still only three points behind the league leaders Liverpool and have a chance to bounce back against 19th-place Burnley this afternoon.
Ahead of this fixture, former striker Chris Sutton has revealed his prediction and highlighted one player that the Clarets must be wary of.
Chris Sutton predicts an Aston Villa victory vs Burnley
Sutton regularly weighs in on his thoughts on Villa given he used to play for the club.
After they beat Man City and Arsenal, he was one of several who said they shouldn’t be written off in the title race and now expects them to bounce back against Burnley.
He wrote in his column for BBC Sport: “Aston Villa have slipped up in their past two games, against Sheffield United and Manchester United, picking up one point when I thought they would take all six.
“Villa boss Unai Emery said after their defeat at Old Trafford that he is still happy to have 39 points so far, and was quite right to emphasise the fact they have over-achieved, but they are surely disappointed not to have pushed on in the past week.
“Still, I think they will bounce back here. Burnley have picked up more points away (eight) than at home (three) but I don’t see them keeping Ollie Watkins quiet.”
Sutton’s prediction: Aston Villa 2-0 Burnley
Ollie Watkins can fire Aston Villa to victory
Ollie Watkins has scored five of his nine Premier League goals at Villa Park this term and Emery’s side are 16 matches unbeaten at home.
Burnley have been improved on their travels, recording a 2-0 victory over Fulham and drawing against Brighton & Hove Albion in their last two matches.
That said, Villa will be desperate to bounce back in front of their supporters and will be encouraged by the Clarets poor defensive record.
Only Sheffield United (47) have conceded more goals than Vincent Kompany’s troops (38) and considering Villa are the league’s top scorers at home (26), it’s a monumental ask for Burnley to pull off an upset here with Watkins licking his lips.
