Premiership Football Betting - Aston Villa vs Manchester City

Oil-rich Manchester City travel to Villa Park tonight to face Martin O`Neill`s Aston Villa in a clash between two teams chasing top-six places. Aston Villa will be looking to bounce back after their defeat at Blackburn last week ended a six-game winning streak in all competitions. Manchester City have already recovered from their only setback so far, beating West Ham last week after losing their previous Premier League match at Manchester United.

The visitors are favourites for the game at 13/8 (bet $80 to win $130). Aston Villa are priced at 15/8, making then slight underdogs. The draw is priced at 12/5, but it is worth noting that neither side has drawn a competitive match so far this season. Last season each side won at home, City winning 2-0 and Villa winning 4-2.

The bookies seem to think this is going to be a tight game and 1-1 is the most likely score at 6/1, with 1-0 to City at 19/20. A 2-1 win is priced at 10/1 for both teams and a scoreless draw is 11/1.

Emmanuel Adebayor  is favourite to open the scoring at 6/1. The former Arsenal striker is returning from a three-match ban and has scored four goals in four league appearances this season. Gabriel Agbonlahor of Villa has also scored four this year and hit a hat-trick last time these teams met at Villa Park. He is priced at 7/1, along with City`s Carlos Tevez.

The view that this will be a very tight game is further reflected in the prices for half-time/full-time. Both sides are 4/1 to be winning at half-time and full-time, draw/Villa is 6/1 and draw/City is 11/2.

Manchester City are fifth favourites to win the league this year and Aston Villa are seventh, but there is a big gulf in class in the teams in the opinion of the bookmakers, who make City 10/1 and Villa 200/1. However, home advantage gives Villa a good chance in this match, which sees Gareth Barry return to Villa Park after his £12 million move away in the summer.