Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
On Saturday in Birmingham, two sides will square off who, just weeks ago, were both in the hunt for a UEFA Champions League berth. Now, however, Fulham's chances have all but vanished, and Aston Villa's prospects remain only slightly more promising.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa currently sit six points ahead of Fulham and could see that gap close significantly if they fall short in this head-to-head clash. Avoiding such a scenario will be a priority. The team remains the last realistic challenger for a top-five finish. Even a three-point gap is manageable, particularly considering the remaining fixtures. After facing Fulham, the team will take on Bournemouth, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United — all of whom have little left at stake in the English Premier League, with the latter two still preoccupied with UEFA Europa League duties.
Fulham
The two recent defeats suffered by Aston Villa might raise questions, but context is key. One came in the FA Cup — where surprises are commonplace — and the other was an away loss at the Etihad to Manchester City, a result few would find shocking. Before that, Aston Villa dismantled Newcastle United 4:1 and narrowly prevailed over Paris Saint-Germain in a 3:2 home win. Notably, both wins were at home, while the losses came on the road.
Aston Villa vs Fulham Prediction
Fulham’s form has been patchy, alternating between wins and losses. Fulham encountered a tough post-international break schedule. Like Aston Villa, they were eliminated from the FA Cup at the hands of Crystal Palace, losing 0:3. Their league fixtures included encounters with Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea. They narrowly lost two London derbies 1:2 but did manage to edge Liverpool 3:2 at Craven Cottage. More troubling was the 0:1 away defeat to direct European challengers Bournemouth. Given the form and wider context, Fulham are expected to be competitive, but Aston Villa should just about do enough to secure a narrow win.
