Betting Guide: Aston Villa v Stoke

Last updated : 18 December 2009 By Dan Buxton

Stoke go into this league clash on the back of a few disappointing results, but still sit 11th in the league. Villa are flyingat the top of the table and won at Old Trafford last week.

Villa are, as expected, favourites for the game and are available at 1/2 with SkyBet. Stoke can be backed at 7's with Bet365, Paddypower and Boylesports.The draw is 16/5 with Bet365.

Stoke may have to sneak a win in this tense clash and 1-0 is available at 14's with PaddyPower. The Potters biggest win this season was a 2-0 opening day win over Burnley, and Boylesports and PaddyPower offer 50/1 that the Potters repeat that. The Potters have conceded two goals quite often lately so a third may be needed and Boylesport offer 100/1 on a 3-2 Stoke win.

Villa may have to stubbornly attack and attack and snatch a 1-0 win. That scoreline is 6/1 with SkyBet, StanJames and BetFred. Villa are looking a lot more solid than last season and may not throw away two goal leads this time round. It is 6/1 with PaddyPower the Villains win 2-0. Last season the game ended 2-2 and Boylesport and Coral offer 20's on a repeat of that score.

Tuncay is now off the mark and hoping for a second in his Potters account. The hitman is 11/1 with Boylesports to open the scoring.
Ricardo Fuller will be hoping to follow up his double his own league goal total and he can be backed at 9's across the board to net first. Matthew Etherington is in fine form, netting first twice recently, and can be backed at 16's at all bookies. Ryan Shawcross has a chance to add another to his Villa Park total after netting the first goal of Stoke's comeback last season and he is 25's with Boylesports and StanJames to net first this time round. 

Gabriel Agbonlahor has been Villa's main goal threat and is 9/2 with PaddyPower open the scoring whilst James Milner is in fantastic form since moving into the central midfield position and can be backed at 8's across the board. Richard Dunne has nodded in numerous times since his summer move and PaddyPower are offering 28's on the Villa defender breaking the deadlock.