Betting Preview: Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

French coach Remi Garde is a thoughtful guy who did sterling work on a budget at Lyon, and he appears desperate to do well, but he has the air of a man who is trying to mop up a lake with a J-cloth.

Aston Villa are now on a 19-game winless run in the Premier League (D5 L14); the joint-fourth longest run in Premier League history (alongside Nottingham Forest in 1998-99). “Now I have managed to grab the shirt it is my job to keep it”.

The Villans are 11 points adrift of safety in the Premier League table and the hosts can be backed at 39/20 (2.95) with NetBet to finally taste victory by getting the better of Alan Pardew’s side at Villa Park.

“The Villa fans are hurting because it’s a massive club and they don’t want to see their club where they are”, said assistant boss Millen.

“The guy next to me knocked on the dugout, they both turned round, we said they were disgraceful and obviously didn’t care”. The 28-year-old has produced a number of important saves in recent games to underline his growing influence on a Palace side that could go fifth if they beat Aston Villa tonight.

Injuries to a couple of key players hampered Crystal Palace’s attacking threat over the festive period, and although they made the better start against Chelsea they faded away badly after falling behind and ended up on the end of a comprehensive defeat.

Villa now have eight points from 20 games – that works out at 0.4 points per game.

Palace will win this; however, the fact that the Eagles have conceded in five of their last six road triumphs makes backing an away win with goals at either end and +3.5 goals overall appeal at 9/2 and 3/1. The former Lyon boss has been placed in an impossible position as he attempts to avoid taking Villa down.

And their miserable season took another turn for the worse on Saturday when they were held by League Two Wycombe in the third round of the FA Cup.