Aston Villa 0-0 Wolves
We are underway at Villa Park...
Tribute to McGinn
Sky Sports' Adam Bate at Villa Park:
"John McGinn recently made his 300th appearance for Aston Villa and the Holte End have unveiled a massive tifo honouring the hardworking midfielder. Big moment for a popular player, we'll see if it inspires the Villa captain today."
Teams are out!
Here we go then, the teams are on the pitch. It's West Midlands derby day in the Premier League.
Starting line-ups reminder
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Malen.
Wolves: Johnstone, Mosquera, Agbadou, Toti, Tchatchoua, Andre, Joao Gomes, Moller Wolfe, Bellegarde, Arias, Strand Larsen.
Can Malen take his chance?
Sky Sports' Adam Bate at Villa Park:
"Really curious to see how Malen does this afternoon because there's been a growing feeling here that he deserves this opportunity ahead of Watkins. Now, he has to take it.
"Malen can play anywhere across the forward line but might not be seen as an out-and-out striker. However, his first goal here against Young Boys on Thursday was a header and he is showing signs of adapting to that responsibility.
"A home game against the bottom club is just about the best chance that he will get to prove that he deserves the nod. Watkins will be frustrated to miss out for this one but he is on the bench if needed."
Wolves' woe in stats
Wolves are winless in all 12 of their Premier League games this season, picking up just two points. It’s the third lowest points total 12 games into a season in English top-flight history after Manchester United in 1930-31 (0) and Sheffield United in 2020-21 (1).
Wolves are winless in their last 16 Premier League games (D3 L13), losing the last five in a row. It’s their longest winless run in the competition since a run of 17 between February 2012 and August 2018, with that run also containing the last time they lost six in a row in the same season (7 in March/April 2012).
Villa's threat from distance
Aston Villa have scored more goals from outside the box than any other side in the Premier League this season (8, including two direct free-kicks). Indeed, the Villans have netted more from distance than opponents Wolves have scored in total (7) so far this term.
Villa on the rise
Aston Villa have won six of their last seven Premier League games (L1), a run that saw them move from 18th to 4th in the Premier League table.
Hendrie: Wolves looking at bigger picture
Who will step up for Wolves?
No player has scored more than once for Wolves across their 12 games so far in the Premier League this season.
Rogers in form for Villa
Morgan Rogers has been involved in five goals in his last seven Premier League games for Aston Villa (3 goals, 2 assists). Last time out against Leeds, he scored his first ever brace in the competition, as well as scoring from his first ever attempt from a direct free-kick.
History favours Villa?
Aston Villa have won their last two home league games against Wolves, having won just one of their previous nine against them at Villa Park (D5 L3).
Wolves won just one of their 14 top-flight games against Aston Villa between 1980 and 2012 (7%).
However, since both teams have been back in the Premier League (2019), Wolves have won six of their 12 against the Villans (50%).
Last time out for Wolves
No European hangovers for Villa
Aston Villa have won all four of their Premier League games played immediately after playing in Europe in midweek this season, the only side with a 100% winning record so far.
Wolves change three
Yerson Mosquera is in for Ladislav Krejci in defence, while Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Jhon Arias both return for Wolves as Marshall Munetsi and Tolu Arokodare drop to the bench.
Malen in for Watkins
Just the one change from the team that beat Leeds for Aston Villa and it is a significant one with Donyell Malen rewarded for his fine form with a start. Ollie Watkins drops to the bench.
Wolves team news
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Aston Villa team news
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Team news incoming
Team news from 12.50pm....
Last time out for Villa...