Predicted Aston Villa side to play Derby: Bjarnson and Elphick should be dropped

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Here is how we predict Aston Villa and Derby County will line up this weekend:

To be played on Saturday 25th February 2017 at 15:00. Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham

Odds: Aston Villa 13/10, Draw 9/4, Derby 11/5

Aston Villa welcome Derby County to Villa Park on Saturday for their latest Championship clash.

Steve Bruce’s side are desperate for a victory after slipping down the table at an alarming rate, their woeful form leaving them just six points above the relegation zone as things stand.

In contrast Derby are 12 points and six places better off and they will be quietly confident of inflicting even more suffering on the Villa faithful.

That said, Villa have to start winning sooner rather than later considering the players at their disposal and Bruce’s fighting spirit, so what chance an upturn in form this weekend?

The key thing for Bruce is picking the right players, with recent addition Scott Hogan side-lined through injury and fellow January arrival Birkir Bjarnason looking woefully short of quality against Newcastle United.

As a result, the Iceland international will surely be dropped for this encounter with others more deserving of his starting spot, while Nathan Baker should play ahead of Tommy Elphick.

With all that in mind here is how we expect Villa and Derby to line up on Saturday: