By this late point in the season it’s essential to weigh up teams’ comparative motivation levels before making any bets and we’ve attempted to do just that with our weekend football tips.
Aston Villa, Lincoln City and Burton Albion all face sides with relatively little to play for, for one reason or another and the trio can all oblige at odds-against.
Weekend Football Tips
Aston Villa to beat Chelsea @ 5/4
Lincoln to beat Portsmouth @ 23/20
Burton to beat Fleetwood @ 13/8
Bet on the latest football odds
Villans underrated with Chelsea incoherence at its worst on the road
Chelsea arrive at Villa Park fresh from a 5-0 midweek thrashing at the hands of Arsenal, yet their hosts, who beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates just short of a fortnight ago are 5/4 for the win.
The Villans can all but secure the fourth Champions League qualification spot with victory over a Blues side for whom a potential Europa League berth is comparatively scant motivation.
Maurico Pochettino’s men have often been accused of lacking consistency and know-how this term and this has been most apparent on the road. Prior to their north London humbling they gave up a late equaliser to rock bottom Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Only Liverpool and Arsenal have won more Premier League home games this season than Villa, who are in form having won three of their last four in all competitions and can get the job done.
Tip: Aston Villa to beat Chelsea @ 5/4
Imps to nail down playoff place with a win over partied-out Pompey
Upon reflection Wigan were an incredible bet at north of 3/1 to beat Portsmouth last weekend, with John Mousinho’s side evidently off the pace after three days of basking in their title winning glory.
Like the Latics before them, Lincoln are a generous price for victory over Pompey and the 5/4-rated Imps have far more left to play for than either Athletic or the League One champions, with only a win certain to fend off Oxford and Blackpool in the battle to secure the final playoff spot.
Lincoln are bolstered in their cause by the stingiest home defence in the division and were closely matched with a fully-motivated Portsmouth when going down to a 2-1 loss at Fratton Park earlier in the campaign.
Michael Skubala’s side have won six of their last eight home games at Sincil Bank and are backed to see off guests for whom it’s already job done for the campaign.
Tip: Lincoln to beat Portsmouth @ 23/20
Albion can beat doomed Fleetwood to render Cheltenham result irrelevant
Only victory can guarantee Burton’s League One survival after Cheltenham’s shock victory over Peterborough in midweek, with the Brewers two points ahead of the Robins but in possession of an inferior goal difference.
Fortunately for Martin Paterson’s men they’ve began to show a bit form over the last three games, winning twice, having lost eight and drawn two of the 10 outings that preceded them.
At 13/8 to best a Fleetwood side that have nothing left to play for bar pride they look decent value to seal third tier football for another campaign.
