Villa without a prayer here

We were right about Tottenham at Bournemouth last week but a late goal at Anfield cost Liverpool victory against Southampton. I thought the Saints deserved a draw but Liverpool might have edged it if either Sturridge or Ings had been available. Jurgen Klopp will get things right there, though it may take most of this season and he will need a couple of wide players in the January window.

I went to St Mary’s on Wednesday and saw Southampton beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the Carling Cup. Villa’s travelling supporters would do well to ease off in the nastiness stakes when it comes to some of their chants. The team was pretty well beaten by a reshuffled home outfit and the late penalty flattered them.

Where Bournemouth are concerned, I feel their outstanding young manager will keep them out of real danger as long as a gap does not open up before the turn of the year. The injury list is still quite daunting and nothing is about to change before Sunday, when the Saints may well have Shane Long fit again. As Jamie Carragher suggested last weekend, Southampton may repeat last year’s effort, sixth or seventh again, without troubling the elite. They often look very good indeed at home and should win well on this occasion.

As for Villa, well, sacking Tim Sherwood was premature and he deserved longer after losing three key players before a ball was kicked in anger. Their problem is time. Four points out of 30 is a desperate return and it is highly likely to be four out of 33 following the match at White Hart Lane on Monday. Surprisingly, Spurs can be backed at 4/9 with some firms and I have to say they’d be 2 to 9 or 1 to 5 with me. They are the coming team in this division and, if the Europa League does not get in the way, may take Chelsea’s place in the top four.

Fulham surprised their nearest and dearest by hitting Reading for four after going two-nil down. They have the strikers to score at Bristol City, though the home team is a good deal better than its league position indicates and I make them favourites. I also like the way MILLWALL are starting to put a few wins together and they may account for Bradford at The New Den. ‘Both Teams To Score’ has been kind to me recently and I offer a small treble below.

TOTTENHAM 90 units at 4/9 to beat Aston Villa
SOUTHAMPTON 35 UNITS at 4/7 to beat Bournemouth
MILLWALL 20 units at 6/5 to beat Bradford
15 units treble Both Teams To Score
Bristol City v Fulham
MK Dons v Hull
Coventry v Peterborough