Stoke City vs Aston Villa

Alex McLeish's men are looking for all three points in the battle to avoid relegation when Tony Pulis' side visit Villa Park on Monday and Willie Duncan expects a nervy encounter.Aston Villa have an opportunity to pull further clear of the Premier League relegation zone when they face mid-table Stoke City at Villa Park on Monday evening.Villa were denied a crucial victory on Saturday by Luis Suarez’s late leveller for Liverpool and Alex McLeish’s men will be desperate to make amends by picking up all three points when Tony Pulis’ side visit Villa Park. Bookmakers 188Bet chalk Villa up at 23/20 (2.15) to do just that here.Stoke City came from behind to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. It was a first victory in five Premier League matches for the Potters and ensured that a top seven finish is still in reach. Stoke have been predictably solid this season and they are rated as 41/20 (3.05) chances by 188Bet to win on Monday, while the same firm chalk up the draw at 9/4 (3.25).Villa’s problem all too often this season has been a lack of firepower and, in fact, Villa’s tally of just 34 Premier League goals this season is the second poorest in the league with only Wigan Athletic scoring fewer goals so far this term.With such a poor record in front of goal, there is a lot of pressure on Austrian under-21 international Andreas Weimann to produce the goods. Weimann is rated as an 11/2 (6.50) chance by 188Bet to break the deadlock on Monday with Gabriel Agbonlahor also chalked up at 11/2 (6.50) with the same firm. Emile Heskey was recalled to Villa’s starting line-up at Anfield on Saturday and punters can back Heskey at 6/1 (7.0) open the scoring.Peter Crouch popped up with the winning goal for Stoke against Wolves at the weekend and the former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur striker is priced up at 7/1 (8.0) with 188Bet to open the scoring here while the same firm rate Cameron Jerome an 8/1 (9.0) chance to net the opener.Stoke City might have beaten Wolves at the Brittania Stadium on Saturday but Tony Pulis’ men are poor travellers and Villa should capitalise here. However, given how shot-shy Villa’s strikers are, it may be more prudent to expect the match to be level at half-time and 188Bet’s 21/20 (2.05) on such an eventuality should be snapped up here.