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Stoke v Aston Villa Odds: Back the method of the first goal to be a header

The live Premier League match on Boxing Day evening is a Midlands derby between Stoke and Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke go into the match as 10/11 favourites and they look well worthy of that tag, while Villa are 16/5 to end a woeful run of form according to Bet 365.

This isn't perhaps the closest of rivalries in the division but only 40 miles separate the two and the Potters have enjoyed the better of recent Stoke v Aston Villa meetings. They have lost one of the last eight meetings between the two sides and are unbeaten in the last four at the Britannia.

Tony Pulis has guided his side to eighth place in the table this term and a club record of four consecutive wins came to an end at Manchester City on Wednesday night. There is no shame in losing to the league leaders and don't expect that result to have too much of an effect on Stoke's form.

Their last four matches at home have involved over 2.5 goals and over 2.5 is priced 4/5, while they have managed to score in their last seven at home in the league. Kenwyne Jones will hope to provide those goals as he looks to return to form and he is 11/2 to be first goalscorer with Bet 365. Jones scored in both games against Villa last season and he will be looking to improve a return of one goal in his last eight appearances.

Bet365.com offer industry best priced odds of 4/1 for the method of Monday's first goal to be a header and that is well worth a look. Stoke's direct style of play is well known as they have scored the highest percentage of goals from set pieces in the league (61%). Meanwhile, Villa have been woeful defending the high ball of late as they have conceded the most goals from corners in the league (9) and the highest percentage of goals from set pieces (57%), including Yossi Benayoun's late header in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at Villa Park.

The defeat to the Gunners was Villa's fourth defeat at home in their last five matches there and Alex McLeish will no doubt be happy to get away from the hostile surroundings of Villa Park. However, whether the Britannia is the place to turn around your fortunes is questionable.

Villa have won just two of their last ten matches and continue to tumble down the table as they are now twelfth in the league and have to travel to Chelsea next. It is tough to see where their next three points are going to come from, although the return of Darren Bent from injury will be welcome. Bent is 13/2 to be first goalscorer with B365, although all of his five league goals this season have come at Villa Park.

McLeish will be without the suspended Alan Hutton, who was sent off against Arsenal, and the Villa boss is well fancied in the next manager to be sacked odds. The pressure could increase at the Britannia and Stoke are 15/2 to win 2-1, while the Stoke win by a margin of one goal can be backed at odds of 13/5.

Stoke v Aston Villa Form

Check the season's statistics for both Stoke and Aston Villa, plus the odds ahead of Monday's match.

Stoke Stats | Aston Villa Stats

Stoke v Aston Villa Tips

Tip #1: Stoke to win @ 10/11 with Bet365.com
Tip #2: Method of first goal to be a header @ 4/1 with Bet365.com
Tip #3: Stoke to win by one goal @ 13/5 with Bet365.com

Stoke v Aston Villa Odds

Match Odds

10/11 Stoke
12/5 Draw
16/5 Aston Villa

Correct Score Odds

6/1 Stoke 1-0
15/2 Stoke 2-0
15/2 Stoke 2-1
9/1 Draw 0-0
11/2 Draw 1-1
14/1 Draw 2-2
10/1 Aston Villa 1-0
20/1 Aston Villa 2-0
12/1 Aston Villa 2-1

First Goalscorer Odds

5/1 Peter Crouch
11/2 Jon Walters
11/2 Kenwyne Jones
11/2 Ricardo Fuller
13/2 Darren Bent
13/2 Cameron Jerome
7/1 Nathan Delfouneso
15/2 Graham Burke
15/2 Emile Heskey
9/1 Gabriel Agbonlahor
9/1 No Goalscorer

Odds supplied by Bet365.com, who offer live in-running betting for all Premier League matches.

Posted: Saturday, 24th December 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: english premiership, stoke city, aston villa, peter crouch, bet365,

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