Bradford v Aston Villa Prediction 8th January 2013

Bradford v Aston Villa Betting Preview
The Bantams will be aiming to become just the second fourth tiered side to make it all the way to the final of the League Cup. This is just their second ever semi final in a major cup competition, previously moving through to the final of the FA Cup back in 1911. But after already knocking two Premier League sides out of the competition so, can they become the first ever fourth tiered side to take out three in one season? Aston Villa have had their big struggles in the Premier League at the back end of December, but will their FA Cup triumph over Ipswich restore their confidence?

Bradford v Aston Villa Betting Odds at online bookmaker Bet365
Aston Villa 8/11, Draw 11/4, Bradford 15/4

Bradford v Aston Villa Recommended Bet:
The Bantams will be banking on some good home form this season to take them a step forward to the title. In seventeen matches played at Valley Parade this season, Bradford have lost just three of them. In League Two this season, they have won eight of their thirteen matches and it has been their pretty good defence which has carried them far. They have conceded at a rate of well under a goal per game in the league. It was the same big defensive efforts which saw them win away at Wigan in the fourth round, moving through on a penalty shoot out. It was another penalty shoot out which saw them get through their quarter final match against Arsenal at Valley Parade. So that is two Premier League sides down, can they make it three? Bradford have gone up against Aston Villa twice before in the history of the League Cup and came out on the losing end on both occasions. In the previous three occasions that a fourth-tiered side has been in the semi finals of the League Cup, only once has the underdogs gotten through. Only once this season has Phil Parkinson’s men lost at home by more than a one goal margin, so they will present a challenge to Aston Villa. They have been late goal specialist, with six of their seven goals scored in the competition this season coming in the 83rd minute or later.

Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa had a tough festive period in the Premier League, losing three in a row, conceding 15 goals and scoring none in that run. However, they started the new year off with a point, picking up a 2-2 draw away at Swansea in the league. They followed that up with a 2-1 home win over Ipswich in the FA Cup and actually they haven’t been as bad as their festive form suggests. They have lost just two of their last eight on the road, those two defeats were heavy though (5-0 against Man City and 8-0 against Chelsea). But in general they have shown some resilience and while goals have been hard to come by for them in Premier League, they have been scoring well in the League Cup. They have produced some great form away from home, beating Man City in extra time at the Etihad Stadium, winning at Swindon and then thumping Norwich 4-1 at Carrow Road in the quarter finals. So they have a bit of cup fever this season it looks like. This their 14th appearance in the semi finals of the League Cup, progressing on eight of the previous thirteen occasions. They will be favourites but with them showing some fragility, it could be a tricky night at Valley Parade with them. Expect a tight affair and therefore under 2.5 goals for a positive of 21/20 at online bookmaker Bet365

Form
Bradford DDWLWDL, Aston Villa WLLLDW

Stat Attack
Villa have scored two goals or more in three of their last four away matches
Six of Bradford’s seven goals in the tournament this season have been scored in 83rd minute or later
Villa have lost just of their last eight away games in all competitions
Bradford have lost just 3 of 17 games at Valley Parade in all competitions this season

Online bookmaker Promotion
Some 0-0 bore draw betting coverage can be taken at online bookmaker Bet365 who will refund all losing Correct Score, Scorecast and Half Time/Full Time bets placed on the game if it ends goalless. Online bookmaker Bet365 offer up to a free £200 bet for new customers registering an account with them as they will match the value of your initial deposit with a free bet.