EPL – Wolves vs Aston Villa
Game week 31
Prediction
Wolves have lost four of their last five games and have avoided defeats only against Everton and Watford in that period. Their opponents meanwhile have suffered two narrow losses in their last five games and have a fairly good record on the road. I do expect Villa to manage all three points in this game.
The hosts have failed to score in four of the last five home games, they have dropped points. The Lions on the other hand have conceded just seven goals in the last ten away fixtures. Hence, I have backed Aston Villa to keep a clean sheet.
EPL – Wolves vs Aston Villa: Betting tips
- Draw no bet: Aston Villa @ 1.81 odds.
- Clean sheet: Aston Villa @ 2.80 odds.
Predicted starting lineup
Wolves:
Sa; Kilman, Coady, Saiss; Jonny, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Ait-Nouri; Trincao, Hwang, Podence
Out due to injury: Hoever K. (Thigh Injury), Neves R. (Knee Injury).
Doubtful: Semedo N. (Thigh Injury).
Aston Villa:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey; Coutinho; Watkins, Ings
Out due to injury: Nakamba M. (Knee Injury).
Doubtful: Hause K. (Abdominal strain).
Pre-match conference
Wolves manager, Bruno Lage: “Some of them understand better than others (when asked about Semedo). Every time I say to my players, especially when I take my decisions, they need to understand the man in front of them.
“I’m not just the manager, I’m one more man in front of them and that’s the way I like to work. I’m here to win games but in the end I need to help them to be better. Sometimes to be better you need to challenge them.
“Sometimes it depends on the player. Some players you can be nice and cannot put a lot of pressure on them and with some, you need to be a little bit nasty and put a lot of pressure on them.
“Now I can tell you, I was so hard on Nelson Semedo in September and October. In training, I asked him one time if he was Nelson Semedo from Barcelona, for example.
“They need to challenge themselves and after the good things will come. Some players don’t understand and think ‘maybe the manager doesn’t like me’, but it’s not a question of like or don’t like, it’s the way you can challenge them and put pressure on them.
“That’s why I’m so happy with Ruben because he’s doing a fantastic season and I’m so happy with Nelson because in December and January before he got injured, I remembered the Nelson I saw when he played for Benfica.”
