THE STRIKER: previews Monday’s two Premier League games with a recommended BETDAQ bet and extended match stats. The action gets underway at 6pm with ASTON VILLA v SHEFFIELD UNITED and then WOLVES v MAN CITY at 8.15.
ASTON VILLA V SHEFFIELD UNITED
6pm It wasn’t so long ago that this fixture was the return from lockdown! Ironically Manchester City played at 8-15pm that night too! So much as happened since then and it’s great to have football back with the new season underway. We kick off another nice evening of Monday Night Football with Villa hosting Sheffield United. We had VAR drama when the sides met here in June, and hopefully we don’t see the same mistakes for a long time. Sheffield United started their season with a 2-0 loss against Wolves, while this is the first game for Villa.
Villa were impressive when they returned from lockdown last season. They really tightened up at the back and it was from there that they gained points. They will surely be hoping to keep that style because they only gave up one goal a game on average. That was compared to an xG conceded of 2.4 per game before lockdown. It’s not a surprise to see an open market and I’m going to take a chance on the draw here at 3.25. Sheffield United weren’t great away from home last season and with Villa improving at the back, I can’t see anything but a very close game here.
The Striker Says:
One point win Draw at 3.25 with BETDAQ Exchange.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQavlshu
MATCH STATS
- Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 13 home league meetings with Sheffield United (W7 D6), including all four games against them at Villa Park in the Premier League (W3 D1).
- Sheffield United are unbeaten in each of their last four league games against Aston Villa (W2 D2). Villa were one of only two sides that the Blades kept a clean sheet in both of their Premier League meetings with last season (also Crystal Palace).
- Aston Villa have lost their first home game in four of their last five Premier League seasons (D1), last winning their opening top-flight match of a campaign at Villa Park back in 2011-12 against Blackburn Rovers (3-1).
- Aston Villa won both of their final two home league games of the 2019-20 campaign; they last won three consecutive home Premier League matches back in October 2007 under the management of Martin O’Neill.
- Sheffield United haven’t started a top-flight campaign with two consecutive defeats since 1973-74.
- Sheffield United are winless in six away league games (D2 L4) since beating Crystal Palace 1-0 in February. They have scored just two goals across these six outings combined. Indeed, the Blades lost four of their last five away league games of the 2019-20 season (D1), more than their previous 29 league matches on the road before this (W11 D15 L3).
- Aston Villa are winless in their last eight Premier League games in the month of September (D2 L6), since winning 1-0 against Liverpool at Anfield in 2014.
- Sheffield United have lost each of their last four league games, last losing more consecutively in the 2013-14 campaign (6 in League One), and last losing five in a row in the top-flight back in September 1991.
- Including play-offs, no player scored more league goals in the top four tiers of English football last season than Aston Villa’s new signing Ollie Watkins (26).
- Billy Sharp has scored four goals in his last three league appearances against Aston Villa, including a hat-trick for Sheffield United in a 3-3 draw in February 2019.
WOLVES V MANCHESTER CITY
8.15pm Manchester City finally get their season underway on Monday night and they face a tricky start. Wolves have become somewhat of a bogey side for them in recent times having won just once from the last four meetings. They’ve actually lose the last two meetings. There’s no doubt Guardiola will have focused on that stat this week and will want to hit the new campaign running as they try to get back the Premier League title. With Wolves winning their opener and looking good in the process last weekend, this should be a cracker.
City clearly generate some incredible xG numbers and they are a very impressive side. I still feel that they are a little too short at 1.55 away to Wolves. I take on board that as the games are behind closed doors, home and away factor is taken away slightly but Wolves are a very impressive side. They are consistent and tough to beat. They started well last weekend and know how to handle City. From a value point of view, I’m happy to have a small lay of City. I can see the game being a lot closer than odds of 1.55 suggest.
The Striker Says:
One point lay (liability) Manchester City at 1.55 with BETDAQ Exchange.
You can view all markets here -> http://bit.ly/BDQwolmnc
MATCH STATS
- Wolves were one of just two sides to complete a Premier League double over Manchester City last season (also Manchester United); they last won three consecutive top-flight meetings with the Citizens back in October 1961 (seven in a row).
- Manchester City have lost four of their last seven top-flight away games at Wolves (W2 D1); the Citizens could lose at Molineux in two consecutive top-flight campaigns for the first time since losing three in a row between 1970-71 and 1972-73.
- Man City have lost both of their last two league meetings with Wolves; manager Pep Guardiola has never lost three consecutive league games against a single opponent in his entire managerial career.
- Manchester City haven’t lost their opening game in any of their last 11 Premier League seasons (W10 D1), winning the last nine in a row. No side has ever won 10 consecutive season openers in the competition before.
- Since returning to the Premier League in August 2018, Wolves have won none of their 8pm kick-offs in the top-flight (D3 L4), while opponents Man City have won nine of their 10 kick-offs at 8pm in that time (L1).
- After losing against Southampton in July, Manchester City have won their last five Premier League games by an aggregate score of 21-1.
- Wolves’ opening day victory over Sheffield United was their 1,999th league win – they’re looking to become just the fourth team to win 2,000 games in the top four tiers of English football (Man Utd 2,234, Liverpool 2,212, Arsenal 2,117).
- Wolves are looking to start a Premier League season with two successive victories for just the second time, with the only other occasion being their last relegation campaign in 2011-12.
- Wolves were 2-0 up after just six minutes on MD1 against Sheffield United – their earliest Premier League goal in 2019-20 came after nine minutes. Indeed, Wolves scored a league-low 27% of their Premier League goals in the first half last season (14/51).
- Adama Traoré scored in both of Wolves’ league wins over Manchester City last season; the Spaniard’s three Premier League goals against them is more than he has scored against all other sides in the competition combined (two – one each v Tottenham and West Ham).
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