7M - Wolves vs Aston Villa Preview: West Midlands Derby Seeks Important Points

Molineux hosts a high-stakes West Midlands derby on Friday evening as Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Aston Villa. Villa sit third in the Premier League, three points clear of Manchester United in fourth, while Wolves lie bottom of the table, 17 points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.

Match Context

Wolves come into the game after a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, with Evann Guessand scoring the winner late on. Rob Edwards' side had previously drawn with league leaders Arsenal at Molineux, but overall have managed just one top-flight win this season. Wolves have recorded 1 win, 7 draws and 20 defeats from 28 matches, and have netted 18 goals in total.

Villa arrive off a 1-1 draw with Leeds United, with Tammy Abraham earning a late leveller. Unai Emery's men have won only one of their last five matches in all competitions, though they remain third, just three points ahead of United and six ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool. Villa boast the third-best away record in the division this season, collecting 22 points from 13 matches.

Team News

Wolves will be without Hwang Hee-chan due to a calf problem, while Ladislav Krejci serves a suspension after being sent off against Palace. Krejci's absence opens the door for Toti to come into the starting XI. Angel Gomes could be used in a forward area, and Mateus Mane continues to attract interest from other clubs.

Villa, meanwhile, face a casualty list including Youri Tielemans (ankle), John McGinn (knee), Boubacar Kamara (knee) and Harvey Elliott (unspecified). Alysson is a major doubt with a knock. Abraham started against Leeds and could keep his place, with Ollie Watkins continuing as the central striker. Ross Barkley and Jadon Sancho have featured off the bench recently, but a start remains unlikely, while Leon Bailey could be trusted on the right.

Predicted Starting Lineups

Wolves: Sa; Mosquera, S Bueno, Toti; Tchatchoua, Bellegarde, Andre, H Bueno; A Gomes, Armstrong, Mane

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Onana, Luiz; Bailey, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins

Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Aston Villa

Villa head into this derby seeking a vital three points as they chase a place in the top four, while Wolves, desperate for a turnaround, will push for improvement at home. The visitors are expected to edge a hard-fought contest.