Betting Update; Aston Villa v Man Utd with the bookmakers making Man Utd their 17/20 favourites

Added: (Fri Jan 04 2008)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Aston Villa may be on the up and Martin O’Neill has done a cracking job so far – but it is very difficult to make a case for the Villans here.

In every respect Manchester United have held the upper hand over the Midlanders in recent seasons. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have won 12 out of 12 home and away against Villa in all competitions stretching back to October 2002, when they drew 1-1. Vila’s last head-to-head victory occurred in October 1999, when they triumphed 3-0 at Villa Park in a third-round League Cup tie. In the last 28 meetings between the sides United have won 21, drawn six and lost just one. It is an amazing run of form.

Can Villa draw hope from their home record? Not at all. Since that 3-1 win for Villa in the League Cup in 1999 United have won 11 and drawn three meetings between the teams at Villa Park. They have won the last eight, scoring 18 goals and conceding just four. Then the sides met at Villa Park in the Premier League on October 20 this season Villa took the lead in the 12th minute through Gabriel Agbonlahor – and United promptly hit back with four to record a 4-1 win, with Wayne Rooney (two) and Rio Ferdinand netting three goals in a 10-minute spell just before half-time. Ryan Giggs completed the rout after the break.

United are also vastly superior in the FA Cup – they have won nine of 11 meetings between the sides. There have been three meetings in the last decade – and United have won all three. The most recent victory at Villa Park came in January 2004, when Gareth Barry gave the hosts the lead but a double from Paul Scholes in the second-half claimed victory for United.

Villa may not be too disheartened if they do crash out of the FA Cup. Every club likes to win silverware, but Martin O’Neill’s priority is maintaining Villa’s impressive Premier League form. In his first season in charge he led the club to 11th in 2006-07 and is determined to improve on that showing. Villa have the makings of a top-six side but have probably the smallest squad in the top flight (just 17 players have started league games this campaign) so an FA Cup run would hinder their Premier League hopes.

The only option is to back United here, with Ferguson’s side available at a very generous 10/11. But you can find even better value backing the visitors on the Asian handicap as they are available with a -0.5-goal start – which is effectively backing them to win – at 99/100

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Recommended Bets - 2pts Man Utd -0.5-goal start on the Asian handicap 99/100

• All prices correct at time of writing.

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