Aston Villa vs Fulham Predictions

• Aston Villa have lost just once at home in the Premier League this season
• The hosts have also conceded in all but two of their 17 home games in the top flight
• Fulham have lost four of their last six assignments in all competitions
• Ollie Watkins is Aston Villa’s leading scorer in the Premier League with 15 goals

Full focus on top-five berth for wounded Villa

Aston Villa were swept aside 3-0 by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday but the silver lining of that result is that Unai Emery’s men can put full focus on making the top five in the Premier League.

At the start of April, Villa were still involved in the Champions League, FA Cup and the race for the Champions League places in the Premier League.

But a 5-4 aggregate defeat to PSG followed in the Champions League before they lost comprehensively to Palace on Saturday, despite winning the shot count 16-9 and seeing 71 per cent of the ball.

Emery will now expect a reaction from his side, who face Fulham, Bournemouth, Tottenham and Manchester United in their last four league contests.

Cottagers could struggle in trip to Midlands

Going into Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, Villa are three points off the top six, albeit having played one game more than sixth-placed Nottingham Forest.

Their target will be top five given that will secure a place in the Champions League and they can boost their chances with a win over the Cottagers.

Fulham are just below Villa but there are six points between the sides and it will take a decent effort for them to secure a Conference League playoff position.

They pulled off key wins over Liverpool and Southampton in April but also suffered defeats to Arsenal, Bournemouth and Chelsea and have blown hot and cold recently.

They too were beaten 3-0 by Palace in a recent FA Cup contest and they could struggle at Villa Park, which has been a testing ground for Premier League opposition this term.

Watkins can star in high-scoring win

Villa have not lost a league game on their own patch since a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in their first home game of the season.

And they have won three home games on the spin in the Premier League, taking down Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, who are all above them in the standings.

The 4-1 hammering of Newcastle in April was particularly eye-catching and Villa’s wealth of attacking options should see them over the line against Fulham.

Villa’s last three home league wins produced a total of 11 goals and a bet on them to win and over 2.5 goals could be the way to go, while 2-1 appeals in the correct score market.

Ollie Watkins has been displaced by Marcus Rashford at times this season but remains Villa’s leading scorer in the Premier League with 15 goals.

He was on target in the reverse fixture with Fulham in October and can net again.