Friday night football returns in the Championship with Aston Villa taking on Sheffield United at Villa Park with both teams eyeing off all three points in this top half clash in order to boost their respective promotion ambitions.
Since the departure of former manager, Steve Bruce, very little has actually changed at Aston Villa as they still sit outside of the play-off pack and four points adrift of 6th placed Bristol City, but the hosts know that a win on Friday night would move The Villains to within touching distance of the top six.
Villa’s recent form has been solid enough as they’ve suffered just one defeat in their last seven league matches in the Championship which was a heavy 3-0 loss away at Wigan Athletic, but recent wins against Swansea City and Ipswich Town have kept them in the frame and in touch with the play-off pack.
However, one too many draws in recent weeks have hampered their progress as the hosts have drawn four of these last seven matches with stalemates against Preston North End, QPR, Hull City and most disappointing of all, a 0-0 draw away at relegation candidates Reading.
Aston Villa possess a solid record at Villa Park though which reads W6 D7 L2, scoring 34 goals and conceding 27 in reply. Along with city rivals, Birmingham City and bottom club Ipswich Town, Villa have drawn the most games at home in the division this season.
Onto Sheffield United, and The Blades have enjoyed another successful campaign so far under manager Chris Wilder as the visitors sit in third spot and now just three points adrift of the top two clubs, Norwich City and Leeds United.
United hold a better goal difference (+19) than both Norwich and Leeds, so the visitors know that all three points in the west midlands on Friday night would move The Blades to the top of the table.
Sheffield Utd have also shown some strong form in recent weeks as they’ve lost just once in their last eight matches, a run that includes five wins against Derby County, Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic, QPR and Bolton Wanderers respectively.
The visitors’ willingness to go on the front foot has certainly paid dividends so far this season, but perhaps their achilles heel has been their results away from home this term; Sheffield United have already lost five matches on their travels amidst an overall record that stands at W7 D3 L5, scoring 24 goals and conceding 18 to date.
Incidentally, their three draws have come in their last seven matches on the road against Rotherham United, Ipswich Town and Norwich City, so they’re by no means guaranteed of all three points here either.
This match looks very much in the balance and the outcome could well be another draw.