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Aston Villa vs. Birmingham City: Predicted XI in Second City Derby

By Josh Tonti

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Dean Smith, Manager of Aston Villa looks dejected as his leaves the pitch following defeat in the Sky Bet Championship match between Brentford and Aston Villa at Griffin Park on February 13, 2019 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Dean Smith, Manager of Aston Villa looks dejected as his leaves the pitch following defeat in the Sky Bet Championship match between Brentford and Aston Villa at Griffin Park on February 13, 2019 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) /
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A showdown at St. Andrew’s sees play-off implications as Aston Villa visit Blues in the Second City Derby.

The injury report doesn’t look much better for Aston Villa manager Dean Smith. The club’s 4-0 thrashing of Derby County last weekend left a slightly dour note after centre-back Tommy Elphick was stretchered off injured.

Earlier this week, the extent of the damage was revealed. Ankle ligament damage will sideline him for at least five weeks. That puts Elphick’s recovery in a similar position to fellow central defenders James Chester and Axel Tuanzebe.

The trio will not be available until after the international break.

Therefore, Smith will have to push through with just four fit, first-team defenders. Ahmed Elmohamady reprises the role at right-back while Alan Hutton is sidelined. Tyrone Mings and Kortney Hause will play centre-back, and Neil Taylor comes in for Hause at left-back. In midfield, John McGinn returns following a two-match ban, but will he be reintroduced after Jack Grealish, Conor Hourihane, and Glenn Whelan excelled vs. Derby?

Aston Villa Predicted XI: Steer; Elmohamady, Mings, Hause, Taylor; Whelan, Hourihane, Grealish; Adomah, Abraham, El Ghazi

Substitutes: Kalinic, Revan, Jedinak, McGinn, Carroll, Green, Kodjia

It was a bit surprising to see Jed Steer start over Lovre Kalinic for two consecutive weeks. Obviously, Kalinic is recovered from his concussion, otherwise he would not be in the matchday squad.

Is Smith just super-impressed with Steer? I’m sure we’ll find out on Sunday.

With a physical away match expected it won’t be surprising to see either Glenn Whelan or John McGinn start. That being said, I bet Whelan gets the nod, with McGinn as the substitute if the game remains close. The front three is pretty settled at the moment. Tammy Abraham and Anwar El Ghazi are locked-in, but Jonathan Kodjia and André Green could push Albert Adomah for a start.

dark. Next. Aston Villa's Hause Moves

WHEN: Sunday, 10 March, 2019 @ 8:00 a.m. EST / 12 noon

WHERE: St. Andrew’s

PREDICTION: 3-2 Villa (Abraham, Mings, El Ghazi)

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