England Championship - Play-off Final
Monday 27th May 2019
Kick off at 3pm BST
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Match Preview:
What a match we have lined up for Monday at Wembley Stadium when Aston Villa take on Derby in the Championship play-off final to see who will be playing in the Premier League next season. In terms of important football matches in England it rarely gets bigger than this game.
In money terms this game is worth almost £200m, that is the money a club would receive over a period of three seasons including parachute payments even if they were to be relegated again so there is a lot at stake here.
Aston Villa will be the favourites to win, given that they have been here before last season at this stage, and that on aggregate, they have beaten Derby 7-0 in the league over the clubs last two games.
Aston Villa got here in a tense battle against West Bromwich Albion. They beat Albion 2-1 in the first leg and then lost 1-0 in the 2nd and the game ended up going to extra time and penalties where Villa came through 4-3.
Derby were involved in a classic two legged game over Leeds. The first match ended 1-0 to Leeds at Derby’s ground and the tie looked like it was swinging to Leeds. But Derby came back in the 2nd leg despite trailing again and won 4-2 to go through 4-3 on aggregate on a magical night for the club. It was also sweet revenge for manager Frank Lampard who was involved in a ‘spygate’ row earlier in the season with Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa.
This game will also provide the added spice of two former Chelsea greats coming together. Lampard as manager of Derby and John Terry as assistant manager of Aston Villa.
Team News:
Aston Villa: Orjan Nyland and Ross McCormack are long term absentees. James Chester is doubtful.
Derby: Scott Malone is suspended for this game. Craig Bryson and Andy King are doubts with ankle injuries, Curtis Davies and Craig Forsyth are long term absentees.
Aston Villa vs Derby Head to Head:
When the teams met in March this year Aston Villa beat Derby 4-0.
Earlier in the season in the reverse game Aston Villa beat Derby 3-0.
From the last 8 meetings Derby have just 1 win over Aston Villa.
Aston Villa vs Derby Prediction:
Everything points to Aston Villa winning on Monday night and yet there is a feeling that Lampard and Derby simply will not give up, such was the incredible comeback against Leeds. But Villa do look like the better side and have the form and statistics to prove it. They also have the heart ache of last year. What has been interesting is that the final since 2012 has always seen very few goals, but with the way these two sides attack we believe we will see a few. Derby should not let themselves lose in the fashion they did in the league, and everything looks set up to see a fantastic game of football.
It might be worth backing Conor Hourihane to score anytime as he has scored 3 goals past Derby this season and is a great price.
Aston Villa vs Derby Betting Tips:
Aston Villa to beat Derby at 2.25
Both teams to score at 1.72
Anytime goalscorer: Conor Hourihane at 5.00
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