Crystal Palace V Aston Villa Betting: Sunday, 14th February (FA Cup)

Crystal Palace V Aston Villa

Sunday, 14^th February – 16:00 GMT (ITV1)

Crystal Palace

FA Cup Outright Odds: 125/1 PaddyPower

A cash-strapped Crystal Palace have been enjoying a dream run in the cup and could do with another win fall with with victory this Sunday, one that would send them into the draw for the Quarter-Finals. We’re told the money they would receive with progression would be somewhere around the £500,000 mark which is a huge amount for a club like Palace. However, to do so they will need to conquer one of England’s ever improving teams in Aston Villa, and perhaps this lottery dream of theirs could soon be dashed by O’Neill’s upcoming stars.

Enough with all their off-pitch issues as they aren’t the only club left in the competition with cash flow problems. We all know victory in the cup on Sunday will be met with a huge sigh of relief by the board, and excitement by the fans, at the prospect of another tasty tie in the quarter-finals, but Palace can’t afford to start dreaming of the next round too early as the slightest bit of arrogance or a lapse in concentration and Villa will punish Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. However, the fact it’s a home tie for Palace is a huge boost and it proved the deciding factor in the previous round when Palace overcame the odds to beat Premiership side Wolves 3-1. Danny Butterfield scored a hat-trick on a turbulent night for The Eagles, although his scoring antics just highlights the difficult of the task ahead for Neil Warnock in that he has no alternative but to seek the help of defenders and all sorts just to fill the team sheet, with Butterfield required in an attacking capacity against Wolves instead of his usual defensive role. 

Their problems off the field have resulted in big names leaving the club, with their biggest, Victor Moses, waving goodbye during January in a lucrative deal for the club. However, this has had a huge adverse effect in that Warnock is now struggling to fill the bench. However, this type of situation does tend to bring the group closer together as they all chip in and fight for the same cause. This appears to be the case at the club right now as they had to battle hard against Wolves to see them off, which they did, but they’ve shown even more hunger and desire in the league by winning three of their last five, which is an amazing run for a club with hardly any players and with relegation looming over them.

Palace’s valiant run came to end on Tuesday when they were narrowly beaten 1-0 at home to Swansea. However, the players have shown that they are up for the fight and they will go that extra yard in trying to save this club. Victory on Sunday would bring in a welcome boost of funds for the club and they should need little encouragement other than to highlight the reward for success at Selhurst Park this weekend. Another battling effort is required if Palace are to overcome adversity again, but it’s not out of the question and we’re sure Palace will have plenty of neutral support on Sunday.

Aston Villa

FA Cup Outright Odds: 8/1 BlueSquare

Villa are the worthy favourites to progress further in the tournament but won’t have been pleased to see their name drawn in an away fixture, and perhaps not overly impressed with drawing Crystal Palace as they know their opponents will be doing everything within their power to win on Sunday in order to boost their cash flow problems. However, the Villa players can’t afford to feel sorry for their match day opponents and, with Martin O’Neill at the helm, we don’t see that happening. Will Villa add to Palace’s woes by sending them out of the FA Cup at a time when winning is priceless? 

Well, if Villa play like they did in midweek when they drew 1-1 with Manchester United then their opponents may have half-a-chance. Despite taking an early lead, and despite seeing their opponents reduced to 10 men, Villa played in such a negative manner that it was beyond belief that we were actually watching the same Aston Villa that beat Man Utd 1-0 at Old Trafford with a ruthless display back in December. With the battle for fourth now taking over their footballing life’s, perhaps the pressure is starting to get to the players, just like it did last season!

On paper, after looking through all the names available to Martin O’Neill for this clash; the likes of James Milner, Ashley Young (Both dangerous play-makers for Villa), and aided by their forward partnering of Emile Heskey & Gabriel Agbonlahor, you would think Villa would be a shoe-in. However, since Villa smashed six in against Blackburn in the Carling Cup Semi-Final, Villa haven’t been as potent in the final third and haven’t been for quite some time if we’re honest. Stretching back to 27^th December, Villa have only managed to score in two of their last seven league games. Their only away goals of the year came at Craven Cottage when they beat Fulham with two fortuitous strikes. They failed in their next attempt though, once again playing in a negative manner when drawing 0-0 at Tottenham.

Aston Villa have been far too lax in their recent outings, especially their last two, and anything similar on Sunday would make them a precarious bet. However, considering they’ve had some tough fixtures of late, and to put it into perspective that Sunday’s opponents are just the Championship’s Crystal Palace, surely a more adventurous and attacking Aston Villa will take to the field at Selhurst Park? If so, Villa should come through this potentially difficult away tie – However, another dull display could make this a very interesting contest from a neutral perspective.

How they got here?

Crystal Palace

Beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 (A)

Drew Wolves 2-2 (A)

Beat Wolves 3-1 (H)

Aston Villa

Beat Blackburn Rovers 3-1 (H)

Beat Brighton 3-2 (H)

Match Verdict: Aston Villa to WIN – 1.83 VCbet

We wouldn’t put anyone off backing the romance of the cup to guide Palace through this money spinning encounter with Aston Villa, but we honestly feel this game is there for the taken if Villa apply themselves in a professional manner. If the players pull their fingers out and play the stylish, attacking football we’ve all come to love with them this season then Villa should be the victors. However, on the same token, if Palace put in another battling display and give 110%, aided by another below par effort from Villa, then who knows what will happen at Selhurst Park. An upset isn’t out of the question, but Villa have this tie in their hands. It’s just guessing what they want to do with it that’s the problem.

It’s also worth noting that Villa have struggled in the FA Cup thus far, scraping through very winnable home games, which is a concern considering this is their first attempt at winning away from Villa Park in this competition. Also, Palace will have most of the support in the ground, which should go without saying, and they will get right behind their players.

Match Odds:

Crystal Palace – 5.00 SkyBet

Draw – 3.60 Boylesports

Aston Villa – 1.83 VCbet 

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Both teams to score (YES) – 1.91 WilliamHill