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ASTON VILLA v MIDDLESBROUGH - BETTING ZONE PREVIEW
The mood of the two camps heading into this could hardly be more contrasting.
Villa continue to thrive under the hugely impressive Martin O'Neill, heading into this match in sixth place and on a run which has seen them lose just once since December 8.
They are much the fresher too, not having played since March 1 when they went agonisingly close to beating league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates.
Compare that with a Boro outfit which must still be reeling after crashing out of the FA Cup at the weekend.
The draw had been kind to them all along and they looked to have a perfect chance of making the semi-finals when they were handed a home clash with Championship side Cardiff.
But having seen the competition blasted wide open by the shock defeats of Manchester United and Chelsea, Boro simply failed to turn up and were soundly beaten 2-0.
That piles the pressure on boss Gareth Southgate and it's hard to see a positive response from his players in this.
Their only victory in their last five was a laboured extra-time effort against Sheffield United and they've also lost three of their last four against Villa, including a 3-0 reverse at the Riverside earlier in the season.
The way the FA Cup has panned out mean Villa know nothing less than a win will do in this as they aim to keep in contention for the final UEFA Cup slot.
That's a point O'Neill has been quick to acknowledge in the build-up, saying: "The first thing is we have to try and win on Wednesday night.
"It is the game in hand. We have not got to try and win it, we have got to win it, simple as that."
Villa therefore look banker bet material at 8/13 and we also like the look of Olof Mellberg to find the net at 13/1.
He's back in contention after missing the last two games with an ankle problem and is a huge threat at set-pieces.
Given some of Boro's comical defending on Sunday that should set the alarm bells ringing and Mellberg took advantage earlier in the campaign when he prodded home Villa's second at the Riverside following a dreadful attempted clearance from Lee Cattermole.
ASTON VILLA FANSONLINE HERE...
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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