Two sides looking for their second win of the season meet on Saturday when Aston Villa host West Bromwich Albion in a Midlands debry.
The Baggies are currently just a point better off than Villa in 14th spot after five games of the Premier League season.
Aston Villa
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Inconsistent displays have been the problem for Villa in the early stages of the season, and they head into their sixth test of the campaign after playing their part in a dramatic Premier League comeback last weekend.
It appeared that Tim Sherwood's side were on course for a second league win at the King Power Stadium when goals from Jack Grealish and Carles Gil handed them the advantage, but a collapse late on gifted the win to Leicester City, who bounced back to claim a 3-2 win over the visitors.
Sherwood was understandably furious with his players after watching them take control of the game in impressive fashion, and the pressure is on Villa to produce a response against their Midlands rivals when they return to action in front of their own supporters.
The excitement will be building for the Villa fans, who will already be looking ahead to the midweek League Cup clash with fierce rivals Birmingham City, but Sherwood is fully aware that his main priority is to ensure that the club are not battling relegation this season.
After steering the team to safety in the previous campaign, the future looked bright for this squad but they have only shown their quality in flashes and their solitary win came on the opening day against Bournemouth.
Two Midlands derbies will be followed by a trip to Liverpool next weekend, and the mood around the club could change quickly if Villa fail to meet expectations in the next three matches as they look to deliver their best form on a consistent basis to reassure the doubters.
Recent form: WLLDL
Recent form (all competitions): WLLWDL
West Brom
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Much like Villa, West Brom are waiting for that one complete performance which the club's supporters hope will provide a platform for a long climb up the Premier League table in the first half of the campaign.
After losing to Manchester City and Chelsea inside the opening three weeks of the season, the Baggies have improved to suggest that the squad is beginning to become comfortable with the methods adopted by Tony Pulis after a number of changes in the transfer window.
A first victory was claimed before the international break against Stoke City, and West Brom picked up another point last weekend by playing out a goalless draw with Southampton at The Hawthorns.
There is certainly no doubt that the stalemate with the Saints will not be remembered as a classic of the campaign, but the defensive resilience displayed all over the pitch by the Baggies was trademark Pulis as the club looks to prove that they will not be relegation candidates this season.
The club showed its ambition by keeping Saido Berahino at the club in the summer, and the forward was given a largely warm reception by the fans as he came off the bench against Southampton after previously suggesting that he would never play for West Brom again.
Convincing Berahino that rediscovering his best form is best for his own future could be vital for Pulis, who must now find a spark in attack to ensure that they can claim wins regularly to back up their impressive defensive work in recent weeks.
Three goals in five Premier League games is proof that something is missing from the team, and the likes of Berahino, Rickie Lambert and Salomon Rondon must find their shooting boots soon to ensure that the Baggies hit the targets Pulis has set.
Recent form: LDLWD
Recent form (all competitions): LDLWWD
Team News
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Pulis will surely be considering handing Berahino a spot in the starting lineup at Villa Park after welcoming the striker back last weekend, and summer signing Rondon could be the player to make way.
Changes in defence appear to be unlikely, but James Morrison could come back into the team in midfield.
Joleon Lescott is set to start against the side he joined Villa from late in the transfer window, while Grealish and Gil should both retain their spots in the side.
However, there could be a change in attack for the hosts with Rudy Gestede pushing to be recalled in place of Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Bacuna, Richards, Lescott, Amavi; Westwood, Sanchez; Gil, Grealish, Sinclair; Agbonlahor
West Brom possible starting lineup:
Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Brunt; Morison, Fletcher, Yacob, McManaman; Lambert, Berahino
Head To Head
The Baggies travelled to Villa Park twice in the space of four days in March, with Sherwood's side claiming victory on both occasions to taste success in the league and FA Cup.
A Craig Gardner winner handed West Brom a 1-0 win in the first meeting between the two sides last season, but that was the only victory they have enjoyed in the last eight fixtures in all competitions.
At Villa Park, both sides have scored in all but one of their nine Premier League meetings, with a goalless draw in 2006 the only game to break that run.
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Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Aston Villa 0-1 West Brom
It is certainly a difficult game to call between two sides that will both look at the game as a great chance to collect all three points. Villa's defensive frailties were clear for all to see as they collapsed at Leicester, and West Brom will be confident of keeping the hosts out at the other end. A moment of magic or a mistake could be key, but the Baggies have the edge in a tight game.
Callum Mulvihill
