Rotherham look a good bet to see off Villa at the New York Stadium on Saturday.
Rotherham v Aston Villa - Saturday 15:00
Just as relegation concerns were beginning to creep into Steve Bruce’s thinking, his expensively-assembled Aston Villa side dispelled them with back-to-back wins on home soil in the space of four days. First, Derby were dispatched somewhat fortuitously in a low-quality encounter last Saturday. Then, Bristol City were brushed aside a little more convincingly in midweek.
Now the Villans will attempt to do something they haven’t managed for nearly seven years and complete three league wins on the spin. But the demons that have plagued them persistently this term could return just as quickly, and there’s value in the 4/1 quotes about the home win. Rotherham might be all but relegated but they can be feisty opposition on their own turf.
A desperate campaign for the Millers hit a new low a fortnight ago when they were hammered 5-0 by Cardiff, prompting Paul Warne to give his players a wide berth for a few days in case he said something out of turn. But they seem to have got the message, if their gutsy showing in the 4-2 defeat at Brentford is anything to go by. They deserved a point.
But just desserts have been easier to come by at the New York Stadium where QPR, Wigan and Norwich have all been beaten in the past three months, while Blackburn and Huddersfield were run close most recently. Villa are happiest operating in the realm of fine margins but a cautious start could bite them here. The Rotherham 1-0 correct score is worth a nibble at 12/1.
