If Aston Villa avoid defeat at West Brom then they will be planning for another trip to the capital later on this month.
Dion Dublin has claimed that Aston Villa are a ‘better footballing side’ than West Brom as the two teams prepare to meet once again on Tuesday night.
Dean Smith’s side hold a one-goal advantage against their Midland rivals after beating them 2-1 at Villa Park on Saturday in the first leg of their play-off semi-final.
Now, they are set to lock horns at The Hawthorns where anything else other than a defeat would see Villa preparing for another trip to Wembley following last seasons heartache.
Speaking on The Debate show on Sky Sports Premier League (13/05/201 at 10:50 pm), Dublin backed his former team to reach the play-off final.
On Villa already being there: “I’m trying not to smile,” Dublin told The Debate. “They have got one foot in that final. They’re a better side than West Brom. They’re a better footballing side. But there’s one game left and it’s at West Brom, so anything can happen.
“I think Villa have got more quality and their star man [West Brom’s] got himself sent off, didn’t he!? So, that’s a massive blow for West Brom. If Villa play to their full potential they should get through.”
One of the big negatives for West Brom is that they’ll be without star man Dwight Gayle, who received two yellow cards, including one for time-wasting during the first leg encounter.
Added with that, Hal Ronson-Kanu is already suspended for the club after he received a straight red against Derby County on the last day of the regular season.
It leaves the experienced Jay Rodriguez to lead the line for a Baggies team that will be expected to be on the front foot because they need to win in order to progress.
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