Chris Sutton makes Aston Villa predictions about Brentford, Club Brugge and Preston North End | OneFootball

Chris Sutton has predicted how Unai Emery’s Aston Villa will fare in their next three matches.

Villa will take on Brentford away from home at the Gtech Community Stadium in London in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

The Villans will then face Belgian outfit Club Brugge at Villa Park in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie next Wednesday evening.

Then after the international break, Emery’s side will lock horns with Preston North End away from home in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Former Villa striker Sutton has predicted the Villans to lose 2-1 to Brentford but win against Club Brugge and Preston.

Villa beat the Belgian club 3-1 away from home in the first leg of their Champions League tie on Tuesday evening.

Sutton wrote on BBC Sport: “It feels like it will be close but I am actually pretty sure Brentford will win it – Villa have been stretched all season and we know they tend to be a bit flat the weekend following a Champions League match.

“That’s the test for Unai Emery’s side here. Can they break that habit of dropping points after playing in Europe? I’m not convinced.

“Villa are in a strong position against Club Brugge after their first-leg win in Belgium but, if they are at all tired from that game, then Brentford’s energy means they are not a team you would want to face.

“I’m going for Villa striker Ollie Watkins to score against his former club, but I am backing the Bees to take the points.

“The rest of Villa’s season is going to be a balancing act too – I’d back them to beat Brugge next week and make the quarter-finals, and also to overcome Preston in the last eight of the FA Cup.

“But at the same time they really need a run of results in the Premier League to help them in the race for the top five. Right now they are still in touch with the teams above them but they have got to be careful not to slide out of contention there.

“Sutton’s prediction: 2-1.”

View: Aston Villa will win all their next three games

Villa’s recent form in the Premier League has not been great.

Emery’s side have won just one of their past six league games and were hammered 4-1 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in London in their last Premier League match.

Brentford are in better form, with the Bees having picked up three wins in their last five Premier League games.

Only four points separate the two sides, and that too with Villa having played a game more.

However, Villa have a better team and should eke out a narrow win against the Bees.

Having won against Club Brugge in Belgium, there is no reason why one should predict anything other than a win for Villa in the second leg at Villa Park.

Preston are a mid-table Championship club, and even away from home, Villa should get the job done.

Villa fans should be optimistic about the rest of the season.

While it would be hard for the Villans to go on to win the Champions League, they could certainly finish in the Premier League top four for the second successive campaign and also clinch the FA Cup.