Claret Villans
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Aston Villa prep for final two league matches ahead of international window

By Josh Tonti

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Albert Adomah of Aston Villa is tackled by Cyrus Christie of Middlesbrough during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Middlesbrough at Villa Park on September 12, 2017 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images,)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Albert Adomah of Aston Villa is tackled by Cyrus Christie of Middlesbrough during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Middlesbrough at Villa Park on September 12, 2017 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images,) /
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Albert Adomah and Aston Villa are flying high after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest catapulted the club into 9th-place. Villa battle the worst two clubs in goal differential before departing for the international window on Sunday.

There is a half-decent chance Aston Villa will be within the top-six by weekend’s end. With 13 points from nine league matches, Villa lay just two points behind Middlesbrough for a playoff spot.

It is the upcoming opponents in particular that provide a point of optimism for the club. Tuesday afternoon Aston Villa travels to Burton upon Trent for a fixture against Burton Albion – arguably the least talented squad in all the Championship.

The Brewers -9 goal differential is good for second-worst behind Bolton Wanderers abysmal -15, who Aston Villa coincidentally play this coming Saturday the 30th. Four points should be the minimum here, but six points is the standard in this situation. Two vastly asymmetric teams in terms of quality and current form face-off this week.

Against Burton, it will be much of the same for the claret and blue:

ASTON VILLA PROJECTED XI (4-4-2): Johntone; Elmohamady, Chester, Terry (c), Taylor; Snodgrass, Whelan, Hourihane, Adomah; Kodjia, Davis.

SUBSTITUTES: Steer, Samba, Hutton, Lansbury, Bjarnason, O’Hare, Hogan.

Steve Bruce has found a starting eleven that works. A series of play-makers feeding off Keinan Davis (Kodjia, Snodgrass, Hourihane, Adomah) is bringing goals and chances galore to Villa.

Mile Jedinak, Jack Grealish, and André Green remain out for the long-term. Alan Hutton beats out James Bree and Ritchie De Laet for a place on the bench as reserve fullback. Likewise, Chris Samba beats out Tommy Elphick after the former captain served a one-match ban for his red card in The Carabao Cup.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 @2:45PM EST

WHERE: Pirelli Stadium, Burton-upon-Trent

PREDICTION: 3-1 Aston Villa (Kodjia 2x, Snodgrass) (Dyer).

Aston Villa have the chance to trounce a Burton defense that has conceded 15 league goals this season. Time for Jonathan Kodjia to bag his first since returning from ankle surgery.

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