What: English Premier League
Who: Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
When: Saturday 27th August 2011, at 12.05 UK Time
Where: Villa Park, Birmingham, England

So far so good for McLeish

Following the furore surrounding his appointment earlier this summer former Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish needed a good start and he has succeeded. A battling point away at Fulham on the opening day of the new Premier League season followed by a home victory against Blackburn Rovers has made the protests directed at his appointment by some Villa fans seem like distant memory. But the former Scotland boss is all too aware that a run of poor results will start the rumblings all over again.

One way for McLeish to keep the fans on side is to mastermind victory over their local rivals Wolves. After years of dominance over their neighbours, Villa lost to Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Wolves during the last campaign with French manager Gerard Houllier at the helm. The ex-Rangers boss will be hoping for a better record than his predecessor, starting with the visit of Wolves.

And the early start to the game will not put off the home side, but a win is essential as midfielder Stiliyan Petrov has been at pains to point out. “It’s good if you win, but if you lose? It’s a long, long day.

“We don’t mind what time it starts. We are up for it.”

Rampant Wolves look for another kill

Wolves have started the season in superb form with two wins out of two, a feat only matched by the two Manchester giants. The Midlanders have brushed aside Blackburn Rovers, Fulham as well as Northampton Town in the League Cup and will travel the short distance to Birmingham confident they can keep their winning streak going.

The Molineux men emerged with a 1-0 victory the last time the sides met at Villa Park in March, their first success on Villa territory since 1980. Winger Matt Jarvis scored the winner in what was then a relegation six pointer, and with that result still fresh in the memory Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will be hoping it can inspire his players to repeat the feat.

Indeed, McCarthy is so happy with his charges that he has even ruled out adding to his group before the end of the transfer window, handing his players a big vote of confidence before the derby.

“I am delighted with the squad I have got”, said McCarthy. “It is unlikely that anyone else will be coming here before the transfer window shuts.”

Recent form

Aston Villa:
Fulham 0-0 Aston Villa
(13/08; Premier League)
Aston Villa 3-1 Blackburn Rovers (20/08; Premier League)
Aston Villa 2-0 Hereford United
(23/08; League Cup)

Wolverhampton Wanderers:
Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (13/08; Premier League)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Fulham (21/08; Premier League)
Northampton Town 0-4 Wolverhampton Wanderers (23/08; League Cup)

Key absences

Aston Villa: Carlos Cuellar, Gabby Agbonlahor (slight doubt), Luke Young (slight doubt), Shay Given (slight doubt), Emile Heskey (slight doubt)

Wolverhampton Wanderers: David Edwards, Adlene Guedioura, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake

Players to watch

Aston Villa – Fabian Delph: The former Leeds United youngster has made an impressive start to the new campaign. Frustrated by injuries in recent seasons, but now buoyed by a new training regime that focuses on his strength and fitness, the young midfielder now has the chance to become a Villa regular. Able to dictate the play from the middle of the park, new boss Alex McLeish will be looking for the England Under-21 international to become the side’s main creative force following the summer departures of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing. One area of Delph’s game which still needs improvement is his tackling; he can occasionally be wreckless so he will need to take extra care in a heated local derby

Wolverhampton Wanderers – Roger Johnson: The £7M signing from local rivals Birmingham City comes up against his former manager McLeish in this Midlands derby. And the former Cardiff City player will be looking to get one over on his old boss. The commanding centre back has added stability to a backline which leaked goals last season and will be tasked with keeping England international striker Darren Bent quiet.

Match Predicition

Both defences have looked solid this year after last season’s fragility, but with the likes of Darren Bent, Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher on the pitch the respective backlines will be in for a stern test.

As in any local derby expect the game to be played at a frantic pace. It will be tight but Villa will take the three points from an entertaining, but at times scrappy match.


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