Paddy’s Preview: Everton vs Aston Villa

Everton’s home record this season is one of the best, with just one defeat in 13 games.

Goodison Park is a fortress and for away teams it’s one place you really wouldn’t visit if you didn’t have to, like the in-laws over Christmas, or IKEA.

This Saturday Aston Villa travel to Merseyside and David Moyes’ men are the well-backed 2/5 favourites with Paddy Power to take all three points against the relegation-threatened Villains. Paul Lambert’s team have gone seven games without a win and dropped into the relegation zone after scoring just five league goals since December 23rd. The lack of firepower up top makes Everton a decent bet to win without conceding which is 5/4 with Paddy Power.

Although, the Toffees have kept just two clean sheets at home in the league this season and haven’t kept Villa out since 2004. Everton’s last four home wins have all been by the 2-1 scoreline and it is 13/2 with Paddy Power for that to be the result again at Goodison Park. For the more conservative punter, the one who enjoys ready-salted crisps and just going on the log-flume at Alton Towers, Everton to win by a single goal is 12/5.

Steven Pienaar has four goals to his name this season and banged in three of them over the Christmas period. He found the onion bag against Villa in August and is 12/1 to open the scoring with Paddy Power. Everton fans will be delighted to have Pienaar in the team rather than playing in the Africa Cup of Nations and the South African is 4/1 to get his name on the scoresheet at any time.

Just one defeat in the last 12 league games has given Everton some serious momentum and the Toffees are now just one point behind Tottenham in the league. David Moyes’ men are 4/1 to finish the season in an illustrious top four spot and bring European football back in front of the Gwladys Street End.