‘I really like’: Andy Townsend shares who’ll finish higher Aston Villa, Wolves or Foxes

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Andy Townsend has backed Aston Villa to finish higher than Wolves and Leicester City this season, as he told talkSPORT.

The former Villa captain stated that Wolves have ‘looked a lot better’ under Bruno Lage, whilst Leicester are ‘conceding a lot of goals’ and he ‘really likes’ how Steven Gerrard has approached the job in B6.

In previous seasons, it has been the Foxes that have finished higher between the clubs and its Wolves who are currently ahead in the table.

In fact, all three Midlands side are in a straight line with Wolves in eighth place, three points behind tenth-placed Villa, who have played a game less, with Brendan Rodgers’ side sandwiched in between.

All three clubs have aspirations to get into Europe and will feel they can secure those top-seven finishes by the time the final ball is kicked in May.

But Townsend thinks when it comes to securing a top-six spot, then that’s out of the window for all three sides.

“Bruno Lage and Wolves have really started to look a little bit more settled,” said Townsend. “They have looked a lot better.

“Leicester concede a lot of goals and Brendan has got problems at the back. All his main men are missing.

“I think out of the three teams, I really like how Steven has approached the job. I think he speaks well. I think his team have shown and responded under him straight away.

“I would love to think that Villa could get a consistent thread in their game and push in above the other two. I think it’s possible. I don’t think anyone of them will finish in the top-six though. That’s a stretch.”

For Villa, they sacked Dean Smith last month because they felt they weren’t on track with where they wanted to be.

Gerrard’s arrival has provided them with that manager’s bounce, including coming from behind to beat Leicester at Villa Park.

But there is still a lot of football to be played and it wouldn’t be a surprise if all three are so close together come the final few weeks of the season.

The issue Leicester will face is that they dropped into the Europa Conference League recently and those Thursday night games might prove to be a problem for them.