'I'm not being biased': Stewart Downing predicts where Aston Villa will finish in the PL this season

Aston Villa could still achieve one thing this season according to former winger Stewart Downing, who backed his ex-club to turn recent form around.

Despite a recent dip in form, Aston Villa’s top-four hopes are still intact as the Villans sit level on points with Spurs in fourth with six games left to play.

Unai Emery’s side had a difficult week in the Premier League, claiming one point from a possible six after losing to Manchester City and then frustratingly drawing to Brentford on Saturday.

Still, the race is still on for a Champions League spot, which looks possible with a fifth-place finish ahead of this week’s crucial European matchups for the English clubs.

After Spurs took hold of the top-four race, and still have a game in hand on Villa, many assume that the Lilywhites will be the favourites to finish fourth in the Premier League however, not everyone agrees with that narrative.

Stewart Downing predicts where Aston Villa will finish this season

While things are in Spurs’ favour by a fine margin in the race to finish fourth, former Villan Stewart Downing has backed his former club to achieve a top-four finish ahead of the North Londoners.

Speaking on the Football Daily podcast, Downing said:

“I think Villa might get it. I’m not being biased because I played for Villa but I just think they will.”

Just as it’s been all season, the battle for fourth place is extremely close, with only goal difference currently separating Villa and Spurs.

The issue is that both sides have had a sense of unpredictability about them this term, particularly Villa of late who have won only one of their previous five Premier League games.

Aston Villa will have their eyes on sealing Champions League qualification

While the hopes will obviously be to finish as high as possible, there is some relief in the fact that English clubs are on course to secure an extra spot in the Champions League.

In the podcast discussion regarding Villa’s hopes of confirming a place among Europe’s elite, journalist Ben Haines also shared his view on what clubs will finish in the Champions League spots come May.

Tottenham’s remaining Premier League fixtures:

“I think the only thing we know for certain is that 4th and 5th place will be Tottenham and Villa, it’s not going to be Manchester United, they’re nowhere near it with an 11-point gap.”

Earlier today, journalist John Townley explained what Villa require to finish ahead of Manchester United in fifth, with everything there to play for with only six games left of the 2023/24 campaign.

Regardless of whether the Villans finish in fifth or fourth, it’s been a superb season of progression for the club, who have been consistently strong this term under Emery.

The post 'I'm not being biased': Stewart Downing predicts where Aston Villa will finish in the PL this season appeared first on Aston Villa News.