Aston Villa Points Predictor: October 2018

September’s point predictor fell short, having seen Villa gain a meager 5 points compared to their predicted 10. However, 3 of 5 match results were predicted correctly, the mis-hits being the draw at Blackburn, and the home L to Sheffield Wednesday.

What’s in store for the club this October?  Find out on this month’s Aston Villa Points Predictor.

Aston Villa vs Preston North End

Let’s look at the facts here. Aston Villa are not in the best of form, but Preston are struggling mightily. One point out of their last fifteen possible sees them bottom table heading into the month of October. Yet does this Preston side with no promotion aspirations need the points as much as the Villa side does? I think not. Steve Bruce is on the hot seat once again with this match, as a loss could very well spell the end for him after a rocky start to the campaign. However, I don’t believe the boss will make many changes to the lineup (back four), and will be insistent on trotting out Mile Jedinak at CB alongside Chester. It will be enough to win this match, similar to the match against Rotherham a few weeks ago. Villa take this comfortably 2-0, doing nothing to quell the crescendo chants of “Bruce out!”

Update: 🙁

October points: 3

Total Points on the season: 17

Millwall vs Aston Villa

Once again, this is a must have for everyone involved in the Villa organization. The Starting XI need this to keep the momentum and confidence going. Steve Bruce probably needs another W here to keep his job. Luckily, Millwall has endured a rather rough run of form, and their leading scorer is a defender. They’ll be frisky at home, but the better side should prevail here, with Villa capturing 3 in an ugly 1-0 victory.

October points: 6

Total Points on the season: 20

Aston Villa vs Swansea

This has “trap game” written all over it. The fans will be raucous at Villa Park, surely bloodthirsty for the sacking of Steve Bruce following the conclusion of this tie. Sadly, I fear that there may be more people hoping for a loss at this point rather than supporting the club in what is arguably their biggest match of this still young season. I understand that the fans believe that Bruce out is indeed what is best for the club, but their unwavering positive support is what the team desperately needs right now, especially for this match. Unfortunately, I think that there will be too much negativity surrounding this game and Swansea will come in and pounce on the opportunity. 1-2 Swans, although Abraham is going to net one for some consolation. Steve Bruce will not be sacked after the conclusion of this match…

October points: 6

Total Points on the season: 20

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Norwich vs Aston Villa

…but he will be after this one. Norwich is red-hot as of the end of September. Assuming their run of form continues they’ll be coming into this game in a fervor, and will look to relentlessly strike at a fractured Villa squad. This will be the penultimate “straw that breaks the camel’s back” for Bruce. He will probably (once again) give the nod to Mile Jedinak, effectively sending himself to the slaughter. James Chester and Alan Hutton will fly around the back attempting to cover but it simply won’t be enough (for the um-teenth time this season), and the boys will get railroaded 3-0. No points for Villa here. Henry on the horizon?

October points: 6

Total Points on the season: 20

Aston Villa vs QPR

First game with a new manager. (Probably still a caretaker at this point) He will presumably give the fans what they want, and start a back four of Taylor-Chester-Tuanzebe-Hutton. There is room to play around with the other 6, and as long as Grealish, McGinn, and Abraham are 3 of the 6 every match, the team selection should be fine. Whatever the case for those front 6, there should be enough firepower to slide past a QPR side that has been experiencing their own ups and downs. I’ll say a 2-1 victory that’s more comfortable than the score sheet designates.

October points: 9

Total Points on the season: 23

Nine points from these matches in September should be acceptable. The much anticipated sacking of Steve Bruce should quell the negativity surrounding Villa Park, and should point the club and it’s supporters no way but up. However, sitting on 23 points does spell the beginning of a come-to-earth moment for a club that’s going to need to start getting more positive results if they want to earn automatic promotion. The time is now. #UTV