The Championship action returns this weekend and it’s also a return to Villa Park for former Villa manager, Paul Lambert, as he seeks what would be a highly unlikely win over one of his former clubs when the two clash on Saturday afternoon.
Let’s take a look at Aston Villa’s fortunes first though, and the west midlands club currently occupy a disappointing mid-table position in the Championship in 13th place and now find themselves seven points adrift of the play-off pack ahead of this important fixture.
It’s been a disappointing season thus far for Aston Villa who sacked former manager Steve Bruce following a poor start to the season as Villa sat in 12th place but were only two points adrift of the top six at that stage.
Former Brentford boss, Dean Smith, took over the helm at Villa Park a week later but with just six wins from their subsequent 17 league matches under Smith, Villa are actually in a worse position now than when Bruce was shown the door. Even the 4-2 win in the Second City derby over bitter rivals Birmingham City seems a distant memory now.
The hosts have managed just one win from their last eight matches overall which was a 1-0 win away at Swansea City, but too many draws have undone Villa’s play-off ambitions to date.
Five of their last eight matches have ended in stalemates along with two defeats to Leeds United (home) and Wigan Athletic (away), while at home, Villa possess a record of 5-7-2 32/26 which includes four draws from their last five on home turf.
But hope springs eternal, and the optimists would point out that the hosts have lost just twice at home all season with striker Tammy Abraham (17 goals) firing on all cylinders. Attacking midfielder Yannick Bolasie has had to return to parent club Everton, while midfielders Henri Lansbury and Jack Grealish are both out injured.
This means that Birkir Bjarnason is likely to partner Conor Hourihane in midfield with the forward trio of Albert Adomah, Tammy Abraham and Anwar El Ghazi operating up front. Goalkeeper, Orjan Nyland is an injury doubt so Lovre Kalinic is set to make just his third start of the season between the sticks.
Onto Ipswich Town, and if Aston Villa’s situation is bad, then the visitors are in dire straits as they sit rock bottom of the Championship with just three league wins under their belt so far in what has been a disastrous campaign for the Tractor Boys.
Ipswich Town also parted ways with their former manager Paul Hurst after a dismal start to the season which saw them win just once in their first 14 matches of the new season, and he was replaced by former Villa boss, Paul Lambert just under five months into his tenure at Portman Road - the shortest managerial reign at the East Anglian club.
However, the problems at Portman Road run deep as Lambert has overseen just two league wins from their 13 matches, and although Lambert has been assured of his position even if the club go down, It might not see see the Ipswich fans being overly understanding if this happens!
The visitors have lost four of their last five matches in the Championship with defeats to QPR, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Blackburn Rovers, with a narrow 1-0 home win over Rotherham United being scant reward.
Ipswich Town possess a poor away record of 1-2-11 8/29 which includes five straight defeats on their travels, as well as failing to score in a staggering 10 of their 14 away matches to date.
To make matters worse, Ipswich have conceded 2 goals or more in 13 of these 14 away matches, so Lambert & co will have their work cut out if they’re to get anything at Villa Park on Saturday.
Lambert looks set to be without the services of defenders Jonas Knudsen and Jordan Spence through injury along with forward Jonathan Walters. Collin Quaner is set to partner Will Keane up front with leading goalscorer Freddie Sears (5 goals) playing just behind.
Time appears to be running out for both managers ahead of this clash, but Aston Villa won’t get a better chance to revive their fortunes and kick-start their play-off campaign when they host bottom club Ipswich Town this Saturday.
Anything other than a Villa win here would be a major shock.