Ollie Watkins has scored a dozen goals for Villa this term (Picture: Danehouse/Getty Images)

Aston Villa?s targets at the start of the season will have been to win the Europa Conference League and finish in the top six. 

Even the most optimistic fan on the Holte End would have considered qualifying for the Champions League a bit of a push.

The rest of the football world will have recognised Unai Emery made a huge difference after taking over from Steven Gerrard last year but would have probably ranked their chances of finishing in the top six as a best-case scenario.

Well, how times and expectations have changed.

Villa?s 2-1 win at Tottenham on Sunday has lifted them into fourth in the Premier League, just two points behind leaders Arsenal and at this stage in the proceedings they have to be considered realistic title contenders.
It?s unlikely they will succeed in realising that lofty ambition and odds of 50/1 with Betway, bet365, Bet Victor and others for them to win the title accurately reflect that.

But can they finish in the top four" The bookies reckon they will miss out with Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle and Spurs fancied to end up above them but the 100/30 with Betway that they make it is certainly interesting.

The 5/6 chalked up by the same firm for a top-six finish looks too good to be missed, though, as the second-city club have key players waiting to return from injury and one or two new arrivals in January should cement thei...