Everton vs Aston Villa Betting Preview

Since suffering a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Aston Villa at Villa Park on Boxing Day, Everton have won seven of their last eleven Premiership matches, including five of their last six at Goodison Park, putting their dreadful start to the campaign well and truly behind them. The Toffees don't score many goals - indeed, only Portsmouth and Sunderland have worse goalscoring records in the league this season - but their dogged defending means that a solitary goal is often enough to get them the full three points in their matches. David O'Leary's Villa side have, like Everton, raised their game following a tardy start to the season. Their away form has improved significantly, and they've lost just one of their last nine matches on their travels in the Premiership - winning three and drawing the other five, including highly creditable points achieved at venues such as St James' Park and White Hart Lane. Everton average a goal a game, while the Villans average 1.2 goals on their travels, stats which suggest beyond reasonable doubt that this will be a low scoring affair. Both teams have built solid defensive foundations - Everton more so - and while Villa are the more likely to throw caution to the wind, given that they have more attacking flair within their ranks, I envisage both sides playing very tight. Looking at the betting markets, there are two opportunities that appeals. Firstly, Skybet's offering of 3/1 about 1 goal in the total goals market; and also draw/Everton at 4/1 with Sporting Odds in the double result market.