The Baggies will meet their West Midlands rivals later this week and early next week for a place in the Championship playoff final at Wembley.
West Bromwich Albion forward Jay Rodriguez has banged the drum ahead of their Championship playoff semi-final against fellow West Midlanders Aston Villa.
The Baggies finished fifth in the table after Sunday’s game against Derby County away at Pride Park finished in a 3-1 loss.
Martyn Waghorn gave the hosts a half-time lead but West Brom deservedly levelled two minutes after the break through Stefan Johansen’s superb curled strike.
Two goals in three second-half minutes from Mason Bennett and Harry Wilson saw the Rams pick up the win and finish sixth to set up a playoff semi-final against Leeds United.
Villa, meanwhile, were assured of fifth place ahead of kickoff and as such the first leg will take place at Villa Park on Saturday while the return leg is at The Hawthorns on Tuesday 14 May.
Rodriguez, who netted in both of Albion’s league games against Villa this campaign, insists the team is looking forward to facing their West Midlands rivals.
“They’re massive games. These are the ones we want to play in and be a part of,” he told the official WBA website. “It’s important for us. We need to prepare everything right, like we have done all season.
“These are the biggest games. These are what you play for. We know how good Villa are. We know their threats and we know the form they’ve been in. But it’s about us – I think that’s the main thing. We’ll start again on Monday, get ready and do our preparation for the big game.”
West Brom are unbeaten against Villa this season, having drawn 2-2 at The Hawthorns in December before running out 2-0 winners at Villa Park in February.
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