Aston Villa vs Chelsea Predictions

• Aston Villa have won 10 of their last 12 home games in all competitions
• Chelsea have lost six of their last seven away matches in all competitions
• Ollie Watkins has scored and in two of his last three games against Chelsea

Blues’ campaign has taken another downward turn

Aston Villa worked hard to earn an FA Cup fourth-round replay at Stamford Bridge and will look to finish the job against Chelsea in Birmingham on Wednesday.

After creating a couple of early opportunities, Villa were required to soak up a lot of pressure in the first game. But, whereas Chelsea had won six of their previous seven home assignments before that clash, Mauricio Pochettino’s men are much more vulnerable on the road.

The Blues have lost six of their last seven away matches and will head to Villa Park with the boos of their own fans ringing in their ears following Sunday’s 4-2 home Premier League defeat to Wolves.

It was a shocking result and, coming on the back of a 4-1 mauling against Liverpool at Anfield, inevitably produced calls for the manager to be sacked. Pochettino apologised for the inept display, but captain Ben Chilwell didn’t calm the dissenting voices when he admitted the visitors ‘wanted it more’.

Villan can justify favourites’ tag

After losing 3-1 at home to Newcastle last week, Villa got back on track with a 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United on Saturday. Unai Emery’s team, who clinically converted five of their 10 shots on target, were solid in defence against a side that had scored multiple goals in five of their six previous matches.

The Villans’ recent home record, which includes league wins over Arsenal and Manchester City, marks them out as justifiable favourites to eliminate the brittle Blues inside 90 minutes this time around.

Ollie Watkins, who has scored in two of his last three appearances against Chelsea, could be one of the architects of a home win. The Euro 2024 hopeful scored his 11th league goal of the campaign last weekend and added two assists to become the first player to reach double figures for both categories this term.