Aston Villa V Chelsea: FA Cup: Semi-Final (LIVE on ITV1)

 

Aston Villa V Chelsea

 

Saturday, 10^th April – 17:00

Venue: Wembley (London)

TV Coverage: ITV1

 

 

Aston Villa

 

Outright Odds: 5/1 Boylesports

  

Will it be a dose of Deja-Vu for Villa fans as they make their second visit to Wembley stadium this season. Their last visit to Wembley was for a Carling Cup final in what was being described as the clubs biggest game for decades. It ended in heartache though as their dreams of silverware were dashed by the country’s most prolific forward, Wayne Rooney. Now Villa go in search of another Wembley final date but must get past the competition favourites first if they are to make history by qualifying for their first FA Cup final since 2000 when ironically they lost 1-0 to Chelsea.

  

Our claims for a Deja-Vu like scenario just keep getting stronger by the minute but records, statistics etc. are there to be broken and that’s Villa’s incentives as fans get excited about Sunday’s Semi-Final encounter with Chelsea. However, fans would be forgiven for feeling slightly pessimistic. After all, it was only a fortnight ago that Villa were getting spanked by Chelsea 7-1 in the Premier League, so they have their work cut out tor reverse the form it would seem. Martin O’Neill did, however, guide Villa to victory against the Blues in the home encounter in the league though, winning 2-1 at Villa Park, although that did occur several months ago, six in fact, so quite whether that rare winning result for Villa will have any baring on this game is debatable. 

 

Villa do at least have some winning momentum behind them, or at least the feeling of winning. Aston Villa warmed up for their FA Cup semi-final showdown with a hard fought win away at Bolton last weekend winning 1-0. Ashley Young was Villa’s match winner that day with a sublime curling effort, and it’s these types of players which Villa fans need a big performance from on Saturday if they are to stand any chance of causing an upset. Martin O’Neill knows full well that his teams does consist of players boasting bags of creativity, flair and charisma, while there are several which could be classed as potential ‘Match Winners’. Ashley Young demonstrated just a week ago that he can win a game with one gifted strike of his right foot, while James Milner and Stewart Downing also have the ability to turn any game on it’s head.

  

The problem we can instantly recognise with an Aston Villa bet is whether the players, through lack of experience, crumble under the pressure. This was certainly the case in the Carling Cup final as Villa’s sensational start to proceedings just steamrollered downhill. It’s a situation where if you don’t have a wise head on your shoulders, you could be over oared by the exhilarating atmosphere and expectant pressure from your own fans. Villa were victim to all of these factors in their earlier Wembley appearance, but will that bitter final defeat prove a vital lesson as they bid to knock Chelsea, the reigning FA Cup champions, off their FA Cup perch.

 

 

 

Chelsea

 

Outright Odds: 11/10 (2.10) SkyBet

  

Carlo Ancelotti has barely been at the club for a full season and yet he’s preparing a squad of world class players for an FA Cup semi-final, and with the quality of teams left in the hat, the former AC Milan gaffer will fancy his chances of landing some silverware in just his maiden season in English football. First, though, he will need to guide Chelsea past a dangerous Aston Villa, but their opponents are a team they recently smashed 7-1 in the Premier League, so Chelsea’s chances of progressing to their third FA Cup final in four years look stronger than ever. 

 

Chelsea destroyed Aston Villa two weeks ago at Stamford Bridge, tearing through the Villa defence with ease and with aplomb. Frank Lampard scored four times in that game, while it was Lampard who scored Chelsea’s winner at Wembley in last seasons FA Cup final with Everton, so Chelsea have a player with serious Wembley history, as well as a squad jam packed with international players, world class stars and players with a winning mentality. It would be a shock in itself should Chelsea fall at this semi-final hurdle but the omens are good as Chelsea have won their previous two semi-final appearances, beating one of the very best to make the final last season, beating Arsenal 2-1, while they beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 in 2007.

  

Carlo Ancelotti will also be pleased that he has now fresh injuries to deal with, with the exception being Ivanovic in defence. He will take a team to Wembley that won’t only be fresh and raring to go but one with tonnes of winning momentum behind them. Chelsea have won their previous three games in the Premiership, boosting both their squad confidence and claims for a semi-final victory, while last week they were victorious in the clash some were claiming as the ‘title decider’. Chelsea edged out Manchester United in a scrappy Old Trafford 2-1. A result which leaves Chelsea top of the Premier League, in pole position to land the league title and just as a matter of a few games away from a cup double.

  

Whereas there are some reservations about an Aston Villa bet, there are none surrounding Chelsea. They have only a select few missing, they are enjoying a rich vein of form and remain one of those teams which just don’t seem to falter on the big stage and in those nerve-biting occasions. When the pressure is on, and Chelsea have their big names to call upon, the Blues generally raise their game and are expected to do so once again on Saturday just like they did a week ago at Old Trafford. They’re defending well of late and have been ruthless in front of goal. We’re struggling to find a reason why Chelsea should be opposed, which basically means Chelsea should be a good thing at what is still fairly generous odds of 1.62 with SkyBet.

 

 

 

How they got here:

 

Third Round: Aston Villa 3-1 Blackburn Rovers

Fourth Round: Aston Villa 3-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

Fifth Round: Crystal Palace 2-2 Aston Villa

Fifth Round Replay: Aston Villa 3-1 Crystal Palace

Quarter-Final: Reading 2-4 Aston Villa

 

 

Third Round: Chelsea 5-0 Watford

Fourth Round: Preston North End 0-2 Chelsea

Fifth Round: Chelsea 4-1 Cardiff City

Quarter-Final: Chelsea 2-0 Stoke City

 

 

 

Injuries & Suspensions:

 

Aston Villa: Wilfred Bouma (Nigel Reo-Coker is a doubt)

 

Chelsea: Jose Bosingwa, Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien, Hilario (Branisalv Ivanovic is a doubt)

 

  

 

Match Verdict: Chelsea to WIN – 1.62 SkyBet

  

While Villa have shown enough character in some of their clashes against the ‘Big Four’ this season, beating Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool this season, they’re still lacking some tenacity, some fighting spirt, the sort of spirit you need when the cards go against you and you need some wise heads to stand up and be counted. Granted Villa have some quality players, those which can grab you a gaol from nothing, nut I’ve yet to see Villa pull their socks up and come from behind against one of the ‘Big Four’ and that’s cause for concern in a game where they’re likely to go behind at some stage.

  

Chelsea have been irresistible of late, unstoppable in the eyes of some, so it’s difficult to see them coming a cropper at Wembley. When they sniff out silverware they seek it out in a relentless fashion. Carlo Ancelotti and his players can sniff both the FA Cup and the Premier League and will be motivated to land both. Ancelotti has the players to call upon for the big occasions, the likes of Drogba, Lampard, even Malouda and Anelka these days, so it’s just too damn hard to turn our backs on them. Chelsea annihilated Aston Villa a fortnight ago in a Premiership fixture winning 7-1, and while we don’t think they’ll replicate that scoreline, we do think they’ll win this first semi-final pretty comfortably.

  

 

Match Odds:

 

Aston Villa – 6.30 bWin

Draw – 4.00 Boylesports

Chelsea – 1.62 SkyBet

 

 

 

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Chelsea to Score 3 or More Goals – 3.00 PaddyPower