Aston Villa vs Ipswich Predictions

• At least three goals have been scored in five of Aston Villa’s last seven home league matches
• At least three goals have been scored in six of Ipswich’s last eight Premier League away games
• Aston Villa have won four of their last seven home games 2-1

Rogers is Villa’s ring-leader

Aston Villa should halt a three-game winless run in the Premier League when they entertain second-bottom Ipswich Town at their B6 base on Saturday. The Villans bounced back form their 2-0 Midlands derby defeat at Molineux earlier this month by dispatching Tottenham from their second cup competition in a matter of days with a 2-1 victory at Villa Park last Sunday.

The game was unremarkable but for the debuts of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio in the second half. Both new signings could begin on the bench again if Ollie Watkins is available again after injury, although Donyell Malen may be preferred anyway.

Whether Watkins is still the main man up front remains to be seen but Morgan Rogers certainly looks like Villa’s most important attacker at the moment after netting his 11th goal of the campaign against Spurs. The ex-Middlesbrough man has netted six goals in his last nine appearances for Villa and looks to be the main dangerman to Ipswich getting a result.

Delap can be a handful

Kieran McKenna’s side halted a four-game losing skid with a 4-1 FA Cup win at Coventry last weekend. The Tractor Boys are stuck in the relegation zone now though after their 2-1 home defeat to Southampton earlier this month.

Town have been more effective away from Portman Road, where they have collected only seven of their 16 points to date, which will be of some small encouragement ahead of this clash.

In Liam Delap, they have a striker that more than half of the Premier League would have leading their lines, so there is always a chance they could pull off a shock at Villa Park. Delap is quick and direct with good instincts inside the box and his attributes will be a handful for an injury-hit Villa defence.

Clash looks good for three goals 

But Unai Emery should be able to come up with a plan to quell Town’s main threats and with the quality he has at his disposal now, the Villa boss should get his hands on a vital three points. After finishing fourth in his first full season in England, Emery has had a tough job this year in dealing with the demands of the Champions League and increased expectations from within and outside the club.

But a win this weekend would move Villa closer to the top six ahead of a crucial clash against Liverpool next week. That game is no more important to them than this one, though, so there is no excuse for Emery to spare the horses.

And there is no great reason for McKenna to shut up shop with an open, entertaining affair likely. Back over 2.5 goals in preference to the Villa win, although both could land, because there is better value in the price for three or more goals in the game. At least three goals have been scored in five of Aston Villa’s last seven home league matches and six of Ipswich’s last eight away games too.