The former Aston Villa player takes his Preston North End side to B6 on Saturday.
Former Aston Villa player Simon Grayson has admitted he is thrilled to be taking his Preston North End side to Villa Park on Saturday, as quoted on PNE’s official website.
Grayson spent two years at Villa between 1997 and 1999, and will make his first return to his former stadium as a manager this weekend.
The 47-year-old has already led his side to victory over Villa this season, recording a 2-0 win in what proved to be Roberto di Matteo’s final game in charge of the relegated side.
He is now gearing up for his return to Villa Park in a clash which will also see ex-Villa players Daniel Johnson and Callum Robinson return to the club.
Ahead of the game, Grayson reminisced about his time in the Villa side, and insisted that it is great for his current club to go to a stadium such as Villa Park as equals.
Grayson told Preston’s website: “I had a good spell there at Villa Park, I think it was a successful time for the club, we were up there in the Premier League for large parts, we were in Europe and got to the quarter-final of the UEFA Cup and other big games.
“So it’s a great football club, with tradition and history, it’s an iconic stadium, so it just shows you what can happen in football. A top team like that are now in the Championship and we are going head to head with them.
“We are looking forward to it, obviously we have a few players who are going back there too who will be looking forward to it but ultimately like at every ground we go to this season it’s one we want to get three points at.”
In fact, Preston go into the match four points and four places ahead of Villa in the Championship table.
Despite Villa’s loss of form in recent weeks – they have lost their last three games without scoring a single goal – Grayson insists that Steve Bruce is doing a good job at Villa Park.
Grayson added: “I think he’s changed it slightly in terms of being a bit different to play against but they still have those talented players as well so we are certainly aware of that.
“Steve is an experienced manager, he’s got clubs out of the Championship into the Premier League so he is doing his utmost.
“They are unbeaten at home so the Villa faithful will be looking for another three points to push them towards the play-offs and hopefully get to the Premier League but we know their strengths and weaknesses and hopefully we can capitalise on that and be the first to go there and inflict a defeat on them.”
Villa will be hoping to keep the dying embers of their play-off hopes alive with a win over their former star on Saturday.
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