Aston Villa have a slender lead going into their second leg encounter against West Brom on Tuesday.
Sky Sports pundit Liam Rosenior has predicted that Aston Villa will go and attack West Brom in the second leg of their play-off encounter despite holding a 2-1 lead over their rivals.
Dean Smith’s side are going into the semi-final showdown on Tuesday night with a narrow lead and are fully aware that a draw or a win would seem them preparing for another Wembley trip.
In the first encounter at Villa Park, Smith’s side dominated possession and attacked their opponent’s countless number of times before receiving their due rewards in the final 15 minutes when they scored through Conor Hourihane and Tammy Abraham.
Speaking to Sky Sports Football (11/05/2019 at 2:50 pm), former promotion winner Rosenior expects nothing but front foot action from the Claret and Blue outfit.
“I think they’ll play exactly the same way,” Rosenior told Sky Sports Football. “Jack Grealish touched on it under this manager they have a way of playing and I think that helps. I think they’ll need to score.
“It’s going to be a completely different game [at the Hawthorns]. I think there are going to be more wide open spaces for Aston Villa on the counter-attack because now we know that Albion need to go on and attack.”
It won’t be a surprise to see if this encounter is a more open game given the fact that Villa like to attack at all costs and West Brom need the win.
Substitute Hourihane, who struck the equalising goal could find himself starting at The Hawthorns, whilst Jimmy Shan’s side will be without Dwight Gayle.
The Newcastle United loanee received two yellow cards at Villa Park and is out of the return leg encounter, with Jay Rodriguez the only recognised forward in the squad.
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