Aston Villa take on Derby County on Saturday in the Championship, and HITC pundits give their predictions on the likely outcome.
Aston Villa 2-1 Derby County
Two out of form teams, can we pick them both to lose? Aston Villa’s woes can’t continue forever, you would assume, so this weekend could be the moment they finally notch their first win of 2017.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
Aston Villa 0-1 Derby County
Tipped to fight for the top six at the start of the season, Villa and Derby have both slipped down the table again after the new manager bounce wore off. However, the absence of Scott Hogan and Jonathan Kodjia, who has scored three of Villa’s four goals in 2017, means Derby will just about edge it.
Derby manager Steve McClaren
Aston Villa 1-1 Derby County
Neither of these two appear to be able to buy a win from anywhere at the minute. A defeat for Villa with other games going against them could leave them looking perilously over their shoulder, whilst anything but a win for Derby would all but end any play-off aspirations they may still have. Steve Bruce will be praying he can ‘stop the rot’, and whilst far from ideal, a draw would do that.
Aston Villa 1-1 Derby County
Villa need to start winning soon but I don’t think it will happen against a Derby side six places and 12 points ahead of them. It will be another disappointment for manager Steve Bruce with the points shared.
Aston Villa 0-0 Derby County
What a woeful run Villa are on! Seven losses from their last eight games – five of which they’ve lost in a row – it’s hard to find any reason for Bruce’s side to pick up a point. However, Derby aren’t in the best of form themselves, failing to win in the last four games. A goalless draw for me, with both sides struggling at times this season to find the back of the net.
Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia celebrates
Aston Villa 0-0 Derby County
Neither side are in good form ahead of this one, with goals for at a premium. As such, I’m expecting a repeat of September’s Pride Park meeting – at least this one’s not on the TV.
Derby County’s Darren Bent
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