Dean Smith’s Aston Villa take on Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Boxing Day.
Aston Villa will be looking to bounce back from their last-minute defeat against Leeds United at the weekend by picking up all three points against Swansea City on Boxing Day.
Dean Smith has to contend with a number of injuries to his star players, with the likes of Jack Grealish, Axel Tuanzebe and Neil Taylor all nursing knocks.
Against Leeds, youngster James Bree played at the heart of the club’s defence, alongside James Chester, with Alan Hutton and Ahmed Elmohamady occupying the fullback positions.
Both fullbacks had a torrid time against the Championship leaders, with Villa blowing a two-goal lead and Elmohamady being at fault for two of the goals conceded – he also gave away a penalty against Stoke in Villa’s previous home game.
As a result, Smith should consider dropping the senior flop and moving Bree into his natural position at right-back in order to gain some stability for Villa’s leaky defence.
Academy product, Dominic Revan, who is a centre-back by trade, should play alongside Chester, so Villa can add some balance to their backline.
The Promotion chasers have conceded 37 goals from their 23 league matches this season – the most out of the Championship’s current top 14 clubs.
Added with the defensive change, Smith should bring Birkir Bjarnasson into the middle of the park in place of Glenn Whelan, who hasn’t impressed in recent weeks.
In the attacking third, Albert Adomah, who returned to the bench from injury against Leeds, should also be given a starting birth by Smith.
Albeit an attacking winger, Adomah does help Villa in a defensive capacity and with the club’s troubles in defence, particularly at fullback, having the former Boro man out wide would increase Villa’s chances of keeping a much-needed clean sheet.
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