Saturday’s big Championship match comes from Villa Park as former Premier League rivals, Aston Villa and Stoke meet in the second tier for first time in 30 years.
Both teams experienced sluggish starts but are charging up towards the Play-Offs in strong form, so three points here could well be crucial come May.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesAston Villa will be without Jack Grealish for this match, after the attacking midfielder sustained a shin injury in last weekend’s clash with West Bromwich Albion.
Former Stoke player, Glenn Whelan is expected to replace Grealish and therefore start against his former club.
Full back, Neil Taylor is also out injured with a hamstring injury.
Albert Adomah, Henri Lansbury, Mile Jedinak, James Bree and Birkir Bjarnason are all back in training but unlikely to feature here.
Stoke remain without the absent Oghenekaro Etebo as he completes a three match ban.
Other than Etebo, Gary Rowett has a full squad available for this match.
Form
Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last six matches with at least two goals scored in each game during this run.
Villa have lost once in their ten home games so far this season but have conceded seven in their last two at Villa Park including the opening goals of both matches. They however have netted on nine occasions across those two matches.
Stoke meanwhile are unbeaten in their last eight, despite drawing five of those games and just one of their three wins came away from home.
The Potters have conceded just twice in their last three away trips with both goals coming in a 2-2 draw at Reading a fortnight ago.
Stat Attack
- Aston Villa have won just one of their last six meetings with Stoke with all six games coming in Premier League (W1, L5).
- In four second tier meetings between these sides, Villa are unbeaten in three of those games (W1, D2, L1) with the first meetings of 1959-60 and 87-88 seasons both finishing level.
- Villa’s Tammy Abraham has scored seven goals across four of his last five appearances.
- Tom Ince has scored in each of his last three matches for Stoke with only one of his six league goals coming before half time, which occurred last time out against Ipswich Town.
- In four meetings against Villa as a manager, Gary Rowett has avoided defeat on three occasions (W1, D2, L1).
Prediction
With the Play-Off race becoming increasingly tighter, neither team cannot afford to drop points and I can see a draw here given the form of both sides.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Stoke City
Result: Aston Villa 2-2 Stoke City