Aston Villa visit Hull on Saturday in desperate need of ending their two-game losing streak. The Villains unexpectedly lost back to back matches against Queens Park Rangers and Bolton Wanderers, and now sit seven points back of automatic promotion.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa are just eight points ahead of seventh place Bristol and a win will solidify the team's chances of qualifying for the promotion playoffs.
Aston Villa were fortunate to have the international break come when it did. Manager Steve Bruce used it to rest players and get the squad back to full health – or at least as close to it as possible. Bruce's team was so beaten up and battered ahead of its 1-0 loss to Bolton, that the manager couldn't find fit defenders for the fixture. Injuries have limited defenders Alan Hutton, Neil Taylor, Axel Tuanzebe and Glenn Whelan in recent weeks. However, Bruce is expected to have all four back for the team's visit to Hull.
Aston Villa have secured 30 of 57 points on the road this term. The club has the fifth best road points total in the Championship and the Villains have obtain a +6-goal difference away from Villa Park.
While Villa should get players fit for the clash at the KCOM, Hull have no major injury worries ahead of the fixture. The Tigers should have all of Nigel Adkins' regular players ready and available. Hull are six points from the drop. The Tigers picked up six crucial points from their last nine and it could be just enough to keep them in the Championship for next season. Hull still have a possible 24 points to play for, and with the way the Championship has gone this term, there are no guarantees the Tigers will survive. Adkins will need his side to gain points, but against a rested Aston Villa, it will be difficult for the team to get anything.
Hull have allowed the third most goals in the division (59). However, Adkins' side have not been shy in front of goal. Fifty-three goals have been tallied by the team. Hull sit ninth in the league in scoring, and if it weren't for the team's defence, the Tigers would be further up the table. Jarrod Bowen has tallied 13 goals for Hull, the sixth most in the Championship.
Despite Hull's ability to score goals, the team has a leaky defence. Aston Villa will put at least two goals past Allan McGregor and continue their push for promotion.