Aston Villa-Bradford City Betting Preview: Backing the underdogs to finish the job at Villa Park
Jan 22, 2013 5:24:00 PM
The Bantams travel to face their Premier League opponents with a two-goal aggregate lead to protect, and Al Hain-Cole expects their resilience to carry them through to the final
Despite the euphoria of their 3-1 first leg win at Valley Parade, Bradford know that the job of reaching their first major final in 100 years is only half done.Phil Parkinson’s men must first attempt to protect their two-goal aggregate lead on Aston Villa’s turf before they can start booking their tickets for Wembley.
Paul Lambert believes that a vociferous Villa Park crowd will help to inspire his side to victory, and Coral agree, listing the hosts as 2/5 (1.40) favourites to come out on top.The Bantams have not won any of their last five matches on the road, but you can get odds of 13/2 (7.50) on them pulling off yet another shock Capital One Cup victory.
The League Two side have squeezed through the previous two rounds by securing hard-fought draws against Wigan and Arsenal in normal time, and they would be delighted with another stalemate in this match, at odds of 7/2 (4.50).
Those two draws against Premier League opposition prove that the visitors are more than capable of playing with their backs to the wall, and suggest that they will not give up their aggregate lead lightly.
With the bit between their teeth, the Yorkshiremen can be expected to frustrate a team that have only won four games by a two-goal score-line in 29 attempts this season, meaning a place is the final is there for the taking.Considering Villa’s defensive fragility makes them unlikely to keep a clean sheet, it seems safe to back the underdogs to secure the necessary result to ensure qualification, at odds of 4/5 (1.80).
The Villans’ best chances of overturning the deficit rest mainly on the broad shoulders of Christian Benteke, who has been one of the few bright sparks of a disappointing season.
The Belgium international is central to all of the hosts’ attacking play, and with three strikes in four Capital One Cup ties to his name, he is well worth backing at 3/1 (4.00) to grab the first goal at longer odds.
 |
BET |
OF THE |
DAY |
| BEST BET |
VALUE BET |
| Bradford to qualify at 4/5 (1.80) with Coral |
Christian Benteke to score first at 3/1 (4.00) with Coral |
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Al Hain-Cole is a Liverpool fan, experienced tipster and avid follower of European football. He specialises in accumulators and if you would like to read more from Al you can follow him on Twitter here.
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