West Bromwich Albion vs. Aston Villa Betting Preview – EPL, December 20, 2020

It took longer than usual, but there has been the first EPL managerial casualty of the season with Slaven Bilic let go by West Brom – possibly harshly after managing to grab a point from Manchester City.

But Sam Allardyce has now been charged with keeping the Baggies in the top flight. His first test is against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The new manager bounce has not been taken into consideration by BetOnline in its pricing of this West Midlands derby. Villa has not been playing that well recently either, so the odds for the draw should really be looked at – as well as the home win if you think Big Sam can do the job.

Sam Allardyce has famously never been relegated as a manager – and that seems to be one of the only factors the West Brom board has considered when it came to appointing a successor to Slaven Bilic, who was sacked after overseeing a draw at the Etihad in his final game.

It really depends on how the players take to Allardyce’s style of soccer and management as to whether we will see a change in direction for the club. I’m not too sure – and feel that there will need to be more than vague media soundbites for this team to turn things around.

Aston Villa will be a good test for Allardyce in his first game, as Dean Smith’s side has struggled recently after starting the season so well. Some of that was down to the absence of Ross Barkley with injury, but we have to remember that this is a club that was almost relegated last season.

Villa lost four out of five before having the game with Newcastle postponed. The win away at Wolves was a great way to get back to business – but that made the goalless draw with Burnley in midweek even more disappointing. A final flourish before Christmas is probably needed at the club.

You may already be aware that I am not convinced that Sam Allardyce is the right man for West Brom. With some other clubs struggling near the foot of the table, it is not a foregone conclusion that the club will be relegated either. If the Baggies stay up, I suppose the move will be regarded as a success. But I’m not sure it will get off to a flying start on Sunday.