WHEN it comes to play-offs there are heroes and villains – in this case it’s heroes and Villans.
Aston Villa head into the end-of-season Championship scrap as the form team and 2-1 at Ladbrokes to win promotion.
Dean Smith’s men stormed into the top six with 10 successive wins then drew with Leeds before resting players such as Jack Grealish and John McGinn for last week’s defeat at home to champions Norwich.
It’s derby day with West Brom the visitors to Villa Park and while they won 2-0 there in February that was against a toiling team.
Villa are brimming with confidence and I’m backing them to win the first leg at a best evens with Betway and qualify at 7-10 with sportingbet.
Top scorer Tammy Abrahams has been passed fit and that’s a massive boost. He is 7-2 at Betvictor to score first but I’m chancing talismanic skipper Grealish at 15-2.
The other semi-final features Derby v Leeds and this is tougher to call. The Rams booked their place on the final day and Frank Lampard’s men are unbeaten in six with Leeds winless in four.
Derby lost both league meetings but have improved and form suggests they are too big at 11-5 with bet365. Take Derby draw no bet at 6-5 with Marathonbet.
Sunderland are another side who finished the season poorly with no wins in four and a last-day defeat at Southend handed Portsmouth home advantage in the second leg if their League One play-off semi.
Pompey are unbeaten against Jack Ross’ side this season with a win and draw in the league and penalty shoot-out success in the EFL Trophy Final.
I can see another scoring draw at 15-4 with BetVictor and I’m backing Portsmouth for a second Wembley triumph at 5-2 with Ladbrokes.
Charlton have been in brilliant form ahead of their semi-final at Doncaster and should qualify at 8-11 with Sky Bet.
I’ve focused on the play-offs because all of the Premier League games are tomorrow.
The title is of course up for grabs with Man City and Liverpool sweeping allcomers aside to battle to the final day.
It’s advantage City who must win at Brighton and I can’t see anything but a triumph for the treble chasers.
They held their nerve to beat Leicester on Monday with Vincent Kompany’s stunner and are no bigger than 1-6 to beat the plucky but limited Seagulls who are safe from relegation.
City have won two home meetings to nil – 1-0 and 2-0 – and last season it was 2-0 at the AMEX so statistically a City win to nil is the best bet at evens with BetVictor.
I’m backing the ever-reliable Sergio Aguero to bag the goal that will settle nerves. He is 3-1 with Betfred to break the deadlock.
Liverpool achieved the impossible against Barcelona to reach the Champions League Final for the second year running. They need another miracle tomorrow but it’s out of their hands.
Wolves are the visitors to Anfield and could make it tricky having lost just once away to top-six Premier League sides and beaten Liverpool twice at Molineux.
Klopp’s men must be shattered after Tuesday’s titanic effort and I’m leaving them alone at 4-11 at Coral and if you fancy another miracle the Reds are 6-1 to lift the title. Wolves are 9-1 at McBookie to cause another surprise.
Spurs will also be dead on their feet after their incredible win at Ajax and if players are rested Everton could be a shout at 5-2 with BetVictor.
There are no other issues to be settled although Chelsea and Spurs could swap places and there’s some place money up for grabs.
West Ham are 11-5 at bet365 to win at Watford who will give players a break ahead of the FA Cup Final.
A full Premier League preview will be on mrfixitstips.co.uk tonight.
Recommended Bets
- Aston Villa (Evens, Betway)
- Derby draw no bet (6-5, Marathonbet)
- Portsmouth to win promotion (5-2, Ladbrokes)
- Charlton to qualify (8-11, Sky Bet) – Sun
- Man City to win to nil (Evens, BetVictor) – Sun
- Aguero to score first (3-1, Betfred) – Sun
- West Ham (11-5, bet365) – Sun
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