Villa And West Brom Clash In FA Cup

Aston Villa will host West Bromwich Albion in an FA Cup East Midlands derby. It will be the third time that the two sides have met this season, both Premier League fixtures having been played out already. Indeed, this exact fixture took place at Villa Park last Tuesday.

It was a home win for the claret and blue club over Tony Pulis` men, 2-1 being the result. Gabriel Agbonlahor opened the scoring for the eventual winners in what was to be the only goal of the first 45. Saido Berahino levelled up against their local rivals before Ben Foster brought down Matthew Lowton in the box to concede a penalty in the 90th minute. Christian Benteke coolly converted the sport-kick to give his side all three points in the Premier League clash.

Tim Sherwood`s men are available at 21/2 with 32red, 888sport and unibet to record a second straight 2-1 win over the side and progress through to the semi-finals of the competition. Most bookmakers are offering 15/2 on Agbonlahor breaking the deadlock once again whilst 11/2 (betfair, Betvictor, Coral, Stan James) says Benteke will be the last goalscorer of the match.

The pair had previously met back in December under the stewardship of their previous managers, Villa under the control of Paul Lambert and Albion under the guidance of Alan Irvine. That match at the Hawthorns was awarded to the Baggies, a second half goal from Craig Gardner being the only difference between the two sides.

Gardner is a 13/2 shot with Betvictor to hit the back of the net at any time tomorrow with a 1-0 Albion win up for grabs at 7/1 at Betvictor and paddy Power. Most bookies have 11/2 on the match being a draw at half time and Pulis` men grabbing the winner in the second half once again.

It is, however, the home side who are the favourites to progress through to the semi-final after their recent derby victory over their opponents. william hill have the best price of 15/8 on a home win.

Meanwhile, the Hawthorns outfit are available at 19/10 at both Betvictor, boylesports and william hill in what should be a closely fought contest. A draw, which would see the match replayed at the Hawthorns, can be backed at a price of 11/5 available at most turf accountants.

Both of these sides entered the FA Cup at the third round stage, Villa beating off Championship bottom side Blackpool in their first encounter of the competition. It was again Beneteke who proved to be the difference in this clash as he broke the deadlock in the 88th minute to give the Premier League side a last gasp victory. This was the first of three competition wins in which the Aston club managed to secure a win by a one goal margin of victory. Sixteen-to-five (boylesports, paddy Power) says that Sherwood`s men will seal a winning margin of one goal.

Championship promotion favourites Bournemouth were swept aside by two goals to one with all three goals coming in the second 45. Carles Gil broke the deadlock on his full Villa debut six minutes after the restart before Andreas Weimann doubled the lead with 20 minutes to go. Callum Wilson could only manage a consolation goal for the Cherries in the closing minutes. All three of Villa`s FA Cup matches have been goalless at half-time, 5/2 (william hill) says this will be the case tomorrow.

Against Leicester in the quarter-finals, Leandro Bacuna opened the scoring following the break before Scott Sinclair added a second in the 89th minute. Again Andrej Kramaric could only add a consolation in the dying minutes of the clash.

Albion have won two of their three FA Cup matches to nil, a 7-0 thrashing of Gateshead in the third round preceding a fifth round hammering of West Ham (4-0). betfair have the side at 7/2 to win to nil. Their fourth round game ended 2-1 against Birmingham.

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06/03/2015     © Frixo 2026