Predicted Aston Villa side to face Blackburn Rovers: How to help Kodjia reach landmark?

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Here is how we expect Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers to line-up ahead of their Championship meeting this weekend.

To be played on Saturday 29th April 2017 at 16:00. Venue: Ewood Park, Blackburn

Odds: Blackburn 11/10, Draw 23/10, Aston Villa 5/2

Aston Villa visit Ewood Park on Saturday for a league encounter that could prove hugely significant for the end of season outcomes at the bottom of the Championship.

With just two games remaining, hosts Blackburn Rovers currently dwell in the bottom three and are facing demotion to League One – unless they can secure positive results against Villa and Brentford, whilst simultaneously hoping that relegation rivals Birmingham City do not secure maximum points from their last two fixtures.

Consequently, this weekend’s encounter with Villa enriches the narrative even further – as Steve Bruce’s side can inadvertently influence the end of season outcome for Midland rivals Birmingham.

A Villa win, whilst a blow for Rovers, would ease Birmingham’s plight significantly – but Bruce will be mindful that his own side need to end the season on a high following an inconsistent campaign.

Further, goal-getter Jonathan Kodjia is chasing his twentieth league strike of the season – a feat that has not been seen at the Villa Park club since Peter Withe’s achievements in 1981.

Kodjia, fresh from a one game suspension after a red card against Fulham earlier in the month, is fully expected to spearhead Villa’s front line in tandem with January signing Scott Hogan.

Consequently, Bruce is likely to alter his set-up yet again and potentially deploy a diamond midfield in order to accommodate his two-pronged strike force. Jack Grealish may well be afforded another opportunity in a central role behind Kodjia and Hogan, with Mile Jedinak anchoring a midfield alongside Henri Lansbury and Leandro Bacuna.

Meanwhile, opponents Blackburn go in search of all three vital points on the back of a frustrating 0-0 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out.

Manager Tony Mowbray, in an attempt to find goals, may opt to recall forwards Marvin Emnes and Danny Graham into the starting XI, after the duo made cameo appearances off the bench against Wolves.

Here is our predicted line-up for both Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers, in full: