Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor, right, is challenged by Queens Park Rangers’ midfielder Karl Henry during Queens Park Rangers’ 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Loftus Road in London on October 27, 2014. (Getty)
Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers both have struggled this season and are fighting for their respective English Premier League spots in 2015-2016. Aston Villa is in 17th in the English Premier League after losing 3-1 to Manchester United on April 4th, 2015. Queens Park Rangers had a more positive Week 31 in the English Premier League, beating West Bromwich Albion 4-1 on April 4th, 2015, but sit 19th in the table and are three points away from safety in the English Premier League in 2015-2016. Queens Park Rangers defeated Aston Villa 2-0 on October 27th, 2014 in London, England.
Aston Villa sacked manager Paul Lambert after Villa struggled to back to back seasons of poor form. Since becoming head coach on February 14th, former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood is 2-0-4 in the English Premier League, losing two consecutive games, but has Aston Villa in the FA Cup Semifinals against either Liverpool or Blackburn Rovers on April 18th at Wembley Stadium in London. Aston Villa ranks last in the English Premier League in goals with only 20, but has scored multiple goals in four of eight games in all competitions since Tim Sherwood took over as manager.
Queens Park Rangers also lost their manager from the beginning of the season, as Harry Redknapp resigned on February 3rd. Since Chris Ramsey has taken the helm at Queens Park Rangers, the team has slumped further to a 2-0-6 record and a 19th place in the English Premier League table. Goals have not been an issue for forward Charlie Austin, who ranks third in the English Premier League with 16 goals, but he has 46% of his team’s goals and Queens Park Rangers has scored one or fewer goals in six of their last eight games.
The Basics
Who:
Aston Villa vs. Queens Park Rangers
What:
English Premier League Game Week 32
When:
Tuesday, April 7
Where:
Villa Park in Birmingham, England
Time:
2:45 PM Eastern Time
Channel:
NBCSN (US)/BBC Radio 5 Live(UK) (International viewers, click here for your local provider)
Odds:
Queens Park Rangers +280, Aston Villa -105, Draw +240
Prediction:
Stats You Need to Know
Scouting Aston Villa
Record: 7-7-17, 17th (28 points)
Coach: Tim Sherwood, 1st season (took over on February 14, 2015)
Goals Per Game: 0.65
Clean Sheets: 8
Leading Goal Scorer: Christian Benteke/Gabriel Agbonlahor, 6
Assist Leader: Five tied with 2
Card Leader: Ciaran Clark, 8 yellow cards and a red card
Scouting Queens Park Rangers
Record: 7-4-20, 19th (25 points)
Coach: Chris Ramsey (took over on February 3rd 2015)
Goals Per Game: 1.13
Clean Sheets: 5
Leading Goal Scorer: Charlie Austin, 16
Assist Leader: Matthew Phillips, 5
Card Leader: Joey Barton, 9 yellow cards and a red card
