Aston Villa will make a short trip to East Midlands to take on Derby County with three crucial points up for grabs. Both teams are currently neck in neck in the Championship standings and are set to battle it out to see who can get the edge on the day. The Villains are in fifth place in the league table just a point behind their opponents Derby County who are occupying the fourth position. There’s hardly anything to split the two teams with Villa having a slightly better defensive record while the Rams possessing a slightly better offensive record. Derby has just lost twice in their previous 14 Championship fixtures although both defeats came at home while Villa has lost twice in their last 18 league games.
The recent history of the fixture makes good reading for Steve Bruce’s men as the Villans are unbeaten in their previous five encounters with Derby which has seen them win four matches and secure one draw during that run. It is expected that Steve Bruce will opt for his favoured 4-4-1-1 formation and might name an unchanged side that played out a goalless draw against Millwall on Saturday.
4-4-1-1 Aston Villa Predicted Lineup To Face Derby County
Defence
Sam Johnstone will retain is place in goal for the Villains and will be protected by a back four comprised of Alan Hutton at right-back, Christopher Samba and James Chester at the heart of the defence and Neil Taylor in his usual position at left-back.
Villa has just conceded 18 goals in 21 league matches in the Championship so far which is the third best defensive record in the division. Steve Bruce will be hoping that his defenders can keep another clean sheet against the Rams on Saturday.
Midfield
Glenn Whelan and Henri Lansbury will anchor the Villa midfield while Albert Adomah hugs the left touchline with his pace. Robert Snodgrass is expected to resume his duties in the right side of the Villa midfield.
The match will be won and lost at the centre of the park so it will be essential for these four players to contest every ball and make sure that they have the upper hand against the Rams.
Attack
Joshua Onomah will play off the striker Keinan Davis who will play up top for the Villains. The attacking duo has collectively scored just 5 goals in the league this season so Villa boss Steve Bruce will be hoping that they would add to their goal tally when they lace up to face Derby County on Saturday.
