Betting Preview: Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur

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Our betting partner"]Arsenal fans will be cheering for Spurs on Sunday afternoon as Villa entertain Harry Redknapp's resurgent side in front of the Sky cameras looking to avenge their home defeat under Juande Ramos earlier in the season.

Arsenal are closing in on Villa in the race to secure a Champions League berth. Villa's advantage has been cut to just 3 points with 10 games to play and Arsenal's defeat away to Roma in midweek was the first time they've lost for 18 games and with a superior goal advantage Martin O'Neil will be demanding a massive performance against Spurs.

Villa have won just 1 of their last 5 league games. Spurs on the other hand are doing their best to retain their Premiership status following a string of decent results vindicating Harry Redknapp's decision to field a weakened side in the UEFA Cup having won 2, drawn 2 and lost just 1 of their last 5 league games.

Villa have secured 2 points per game in their 10 games against mid-table sides, having won 6, lost 2 and drawn 2 - a record matched by Spurs having lost just 1 of their last 10 games versus sides from the top 6 - a 2-1 loss against Villa at White Hart Lane back in September. Spurs have belied their league position drawing 7 of their last 10 games against the Premiership's elite.

The stats suggest a tight game. Both sides have been involved in matches featuring 3 goals or more in 9 of their last 20 league games. In the same period Villa have kept 9 clean sheets versus Spurs' 7 and they've both failed to score 6 times.

If points were awarded for bookings both sides would be in or around the relegation zone but Villa collected 4 yellow cards when the sides last met and surely Martin O'Neil will brief his side to play combatively again. Spurs are not a physical side, only 3 sides have a better disciplinary record than Spurs and Stoke, Boro, WBA and Portsmouth have all beaten Spurs by playing a pressing game, starving the likes of Modric space and time.

Jermaine Defoe and Alan Hutton will be on the sidelines for Sunday's game as will long term absentee Martin Laursen and Steve Sidwell is rated very doubtful for the Villans.

Had you put 1 on Villa to win their last 20 league games you'd be showing a profit of 8.05 right now - no side in the Premiership can better that - but our advice is to back Villa to get the game's first booking, best priced 11/8 with BetFred. Open an account now and get 50 worth of free bets.

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Steve Sidwell is rated very doubtful for the Villans.

Thank God!