Aston Villa vs West Brom preview - Vlaar doubt for Villa

Posted Tuesday, March 03, 2015 by PA

Ron Vlaar is a major doubt for Aston Villa's derby against West Brom with a calf problem.

The defender was suspended for Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Newcastle and could sit out again with an injury as boss Tim Sherwood rates him touch and go.

Kieran Richardson and Philippe Senderos are sidelined with Aly Cissokho and Alan Hutton remains a doubt for Sherwood's strugglers.

West Brom boss Tony Pulis will talk to Stephane Sessegnon about diving after the forward was booked for simulation against Southampton at the weekend.

The Benin international received a yellow card during Saturday's 1-0 Barclays Premier League win when he took on full-back Nathaniel Clyne before going to ground inside the box.

Pulis has vowed to discuss the matter with Sessegnon on Monday and insists his views on it are clear.

"I've looked at it but I'll speak to Sess first, before I speak to anybody else," he said.

"It's not a delicate one to talk about at all. My stance is that it should not be in the game."

Pulis said after the Saints win: "At the last club I was at (Crystal Palace) I made sure that didn't happen.

"I don't expect players to dive."

Sessegnon could be the closest thing Pulis has to a striker for Tuesday's local derby against Aston Villa, with Brown Ideye, Saido Berahino and Victor Anichebe all doubts.

"We're still not sure about Brown or Saido," said the Welshman.

"It will be a late call before the game on those two before we make a decision on either of them.

"I don't think Victor will be fit either, so we've got one or two issues there.

"The fact is we want them fit. They've been very, very good for us over the past month or so and we want to keep the team that's been successful together, and they've been a big part of it.

"Saido's grown into what we're trying to do and he has a special talent. He's one we have to nurture and make sure that everything which evolves with him now is geared towards him becoming a very, very good player. He's got the opportunity, the chance, to do that."

While Albion have pulled themselves eight points clear of the relegation zone under Pulis, Villa's plight goes from bad to worse. Albion's local rivals currently sit second from bottom, with new manager Sherwood having lost his first two games.

"This game is as big as the game against Southampton was on Saturday," said Pulis.

"It's about three points and it's about local bragging rights too which makes it a bigger game locally."

He added: "I like Tim. He's a very, very honest, straight-talking chap.

"There's no fluff surrounding him. He's a good football man, he's worked for some good managers and coaches and has taken lots of good things on board. He is what he is and he'll leave all the jargon to other people."