Preview: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Aston Villa - prediction, team news, lineups

Wolverhampton Wanderers play host to Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon having put together a six-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Villa make the short trip across the West Midlands just two points adrift of their rivals in the top-flight standings.

Match preview

While Sunday's fixture represents the final game of an exhausting period for Wolves, Nuno Espirito Santo's squad are continuing to earn results on both the domestic and European front.

Despite matching their more illustrious hosts, last week's 1-1 draw at Arsenal should be regarded as a point gained rather than two lost, and the narrow success over Slovan Bratislava on Thursday night has moved Wolves to within a point of qualifying for the Europa League knockout stages.

There is still much work to be done for the club to match last year's performances, but Nuno will be more than satisfied with a run of just one defeat in 11 outings in all competitions.

The aim now is to make an impact in the top half of the Premier League standings for the first time this season - something which can be achieved with maximum points at the weekend.

However, their one setback, albeit in the EFL Cup with a much-changed starting lineup, came against Villa, and Dean Smith's outfit will take confidence from that result.

Despite suffering successive defeats in the Premier League, last year's Championship playoff winners gave positive accounts of themselves against both Manchester City and Liverpool.

Nevertheless, with bragging rights up for grabs on Sunday as well as important points, the stakes are high for Villa as they bid to move themselves away from the relegation zone and above their fierce rivals.

There is little doubting that their displays since returning to the top flight should have led to more points, but Smith will feel that it is only a matter of time before his team start to learn from their previous mistakes when it comes to seeing out matches.

Wolverhampton Wanderers form: DWDLDW

Aston Villa form: DWWLWL

Team News

Wolves are able to recall Diogo Jota, who sat out Thursday's European fixture due to a one-match suspension.

The Portuguese could replace Pedro Neto on the left-hand side, with Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez forming the remainder of the front three.

While Ryan Bennett made an appearance off the bench against Bratislava, Leander Dendoncker could remain in defence, rather than being pushed into midfield.

As for Villa, Jack Grealish should return from a calf injury after missing the last two matches.

Frederic Guilbert is also expected to make an appearance, despite sustaining a dead leg last week.

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup: Patricio; Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Jonny; Traore, Jimenez, Jota

Aston Villa possible starting lineup: Heaton; Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett; Nakamba, McGinn, Grealish; Ghazi, Trezeguet, Wesley

We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Aston Villa

While both clubs will be eager to prevail in this derby, we feel that the spoils will be shared. Villa have proven a bigger threat in the final third this season, but Wolves have earned the majority of their results this season with goals during the latter stages.