SUNDERLAND vs ASTON VILLA (EPL)

Villa have gone unbeaten in their last 10 domestic games, their last league loss coming against Middlesbrough in November. They are definitely high on confidence and have the "luck of Champions" - playing badly but still winning games with 1 moment of inspiration. Sunderland are a decent side, but I think Villa's defensive partnership of Davies and Laursen should be able to hold off Cisse and Kenwyne Jones, especially since Sunderland's most creative midfielder so far, Steed Malbranque, is out suspended. Villa are adept at playing away from home as it forces their opponent to come out and attack them, hence making them able to counter attack with the pace of Agbonlahor and Young, and this shows as they have won 7 of their 10 away games. I think Villa's form has been too good and Sunderland will probably lose this one, despite dominating.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Villa -0/0.5 @ 1.975 = $9.87

Villa have gone unbeaten in their last 10 domestic games, their last league loss coming against Middlesbrough in November. interesting, cos middlesbrough are rivals with sunderland and newcastle. boro and newcastle have already beaten aston villa this season, when the villans were backed all the way. a villa win in this game seems too obvious to be true, given that influential steed malbranque is out for the red and whites. kieran richardson is available though, and he is quickly becoming a hit with the fans, given his good performances ever since roy keane left. i think sunderland will have enough in them to force at least a draw in this one. djibril cisse is unmarkable on his day, and he has been linking up well with kenwyne jones. sunderland should be backed here. villa's run HAS to stop.

Eddy's prediction: $10 on sunderland +0/0.5 @ 1.925 = $19.25