Big Match Breakdown: Aston Villa v Brentford

Preview, odds and tips for the Championship clash

Two of the Championship’s early pace-setters meet at Villa Park tonight as Aston Villa host Brentford live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.

Both sides are among the favourites for promotion after enjoying unbeaten starts to the campaign. The Bees are 9/4 to reach the top-flight for the first time in their history, with Villa slightly further back at 11/4 following last year’s play-off heartbreak.

It should be a rip-roaring encounter in the Midlands. But who will come out on top in the 7:45pm kick-off? The Coral News Team is on hand with all the key indicators in a Big Match Breakdown.

Head-to-Head

This fixture has been all one-way traffic in the modern era. Brentford are unbeaten in four matches against the Villans since Steve Bruce’s men were relegated from the Premier League in 2016.

Dean Smith’s side have won two from two at Griffin Park, with both meetings at Villa Park ending all square. The two teams played out a 0-0 stalemate last season before the Bees edged the reverse 2-1 in West London on Boxing Day.

Likely XIs

Neither manager will be forced into any changes ahead of this evening’s encounter. Bruce is likely to keep with the same XI that started against Ipswich Town, but could swap Birkir Bjarnason for Conor Hourihane in the middle of the park.

It’s a similar scenario for Dean Smith, who has the option to include tricky central midfielder Ryan Woods from the off after his impressive cameo against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.