27th May 2019 | Championship
Ram-Raiding The Play-offs
Derby's remarkable recovery to win their semi-final against Leeds, in their own backyard, makes them dangerous customers and Villa's experience of losing this vital match 12 months ago could work against them.
The bookies are making Aston Villa clear favourites to win the most lucrative match in football, presumably because they won the head-to-heads this season 0-3 and 4-0, but will any of that really matter at Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday?
Both teams finished this season pretty strongly, but there’s a sense that Derby’s momentum is still growing and I’ll take them at best odds of 16/5 with Skybet to win promotion to the Premier League in 90 minutes.
The Rams’ reaction to getting thumped by Villa at the start of March is significant. That setback prompted a run of 1 defeat in 12 to finish the close season, but it’s that thrilling 4-2 victory in the 2nd Leg of the play-offs at Elland Road which will really bring confidence to this young side.
In contrast, Villa have only won 1 of their last 4 matches, including the play-offs, and even that was courtesy of a late show against 10 men. Their thrilling March/April form looks to be petering out at the wrong moment.
Lampard’s youngsters have nothing to fear and they showed their big match appetite by winning at Old Trafford back in September. They could be back there soon for league duty.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 07:03 27th May, 2019 but subject to change