Aston Villa return home after a disappointing outing away to Manchester City last week. We’ll see how McLeish’s team respond to the loss. Villa have apparently focused on correcting the defensive lapses that made City’s job easier than it should’ve been, but the game will simply be decided by who wants it more.

“We have home advantage, and sometimes in these games, it’s about the will to win, as well as the skill.”

Pretty much sums it up. McLeish has laid down a marker for his players, and I can’t disagree. More could be said, but at the end of the day, I think that’s really all it comes down to.

Bannan, Heksey, Ireland, N’Zogbia, Delph: The usual suspects to join Petrov, Gabby, and Bent. Collins trained with the squad yesterday, so don’t be surprised to see Clark looking on.

Match Stats

Five of the last six matches between Villa and the Baggies have ended with a 2-1 scoreline, including the last four in a row.

All six Premier League wins in this fixture have been 2-1 (five for Villa, one for WBA), with the other four fixtures ending as draws.

Aston Villa have lost just two of their last 16 Premier League matches and one of those was against Albion in April 2011.

In the eight Premier League meetings where there have been goals, Villa have taken the lead on each occasion, with WBA losing five.

West Brom have been caught offside more times (34) than any other team in the Premier League.

Five of the seven goals Albion have scored have been netted in the opening 15 minutes of matches.

The Baggies have won just one of their 12 Midlands derbies away from home (W1 D4 L7).

Aston Villa have lost just one of their last 15 home Midlands derbies (W7 D7 L1).

The Villans have mustered just three headers on target this season, the joint-fewest of any team.

Prediction

I can’t see any reason to thumb my nose at the OPTA stats. 2-1 Villa.

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