Bruce backs new signings to spark Villa revival

Steve Bruce has assured Villa fans that his January recruits are good enough to ‘take the club where it wants to get to’. Villa signed Scott Hogan, Sam Johnstone, Henri Lansbury, James Bree, Birkir Bjarnason, Jacob Bedeau and Conor Hourihane during a busy transfer window.

However, Hogan and co failed to prevent a last-minute loss at the City Ground last time out, which left us in 14th place, 13 points off the play-off places. We are without a win in six league matches since a Boxing Day victory over struggling Burton Albion.

On Saturday, we are back at Villa Park to entertain 16th placed Ipswich Town, who are one of three sides level with us on 36 points. The Tractor Boys are on a similarly poor run, having taken just two points from their last four matches, although they will take confidence from an improved display and a point against third placed Reading last weekend.

It is a huge match for Villa, as another defeat could dispel the buzz created by the January window. Despite our encouraging home form, the reality is that we’ve recorded nine losses against just eight wins, with four of those losses coming since the turn of the year.

This is an opportunity to balance that record at nine apiece, and extend our unbeaten run at Villa Park to 14 matches. Outside of the top six, only Derby have conceded fewer home goals than our 12, while Ipswich have only managed 10 in 14 matches away from Portman Road. This suggests there is value in EnergyBet odds of 1.68 for under 2.5 goals.

We have added much more firepower to our side since the two teams played out a 0-0 draw in September. Show your support by backing a Villa win to nil @ 2.55 on EnergyBet.

EnergyBet Match Odds:

Villa 1.76 | Draw 3.45 | Ipswich 4.75

EnergyBet Expects:

• Under 2.5 goals @ 1.68
• Villa to win to nil @ 2.55

Get more ENERGY!