Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion

Villa's Idrissa Gana trained for the first time on Friday since suffering a hamstring injury

TEAM NEWS

Aston Villa midfielder Idrissa Gana is among several injury doubts for Aston Villa, having missed last week's defeat at Leicester with a hamstring strain.

Carles Gil and Adama Traore are nursing calf problems, while Jose Angel Crespo's fitness will also be assessed.

West Brom defender Jonny Evans was substituted with a dead leg against Southampton last week but should be fit to face Villa.

There could be a recall for last season's top goalscorer Saido Berahino.

MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES

Simon Brotherton: "I hope for Tim Sherwood's sake he doesn't come in for the post-match interview looking like he did last week, when Villa's defeat at Leicester almost left him speechless.

"The wheels came off in a big way in the last 20 minutes as a 2-0 lead turned into a 3-2 collapse. It's a big week for them, with this derby followed by another as Birmingham City visit in the League Cup on Tuesday.

"West Brom's passing was decidedly off key in the goalless draw with Southampton last week and they struggled to create much at all. They'll be up for this one though as they try to win at Villa Park for the first time in four years."

Twitter: @SimonBrotherton 

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood: "Derbies are good games to be involved in. I hear a lot of managers say it's just another game. It's not. It's a lot more than that – local pride and bragging rights. We need to make sure we do it for our fans and for ourselves.

"We know West Brom will come and be hard to break down. We'll have to attack. My philosophy is always to win and be on the front foot.

"We haven't got what we deserve in games so far. Our points total doesn't reflect the way we've played."

West Brom head coach Tony Pulis: "Derby matches are fantastic games to be involved in and wonderful occasions.

"The disappointing thing last year was the crowd trouble and I hope and pray both sets of supporters go there tomorrow and really respect football. That's what it's really about, two teams going head to head and giving it everything."

LAWRO’S PREDICTION

West Brom's draw with Southampton last weekend was not exactly a thriller but it was a clean sheet and another point gained for Tony Pulis's side, and I think their gradual improvement will continue at Villa Park.

Lawro's full predictions against England cricket star Stuart Broad

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Tim Sherwood earned his first win as Aston Villa manager in the corresponding fixture in March last season. The two sides met again at Villa Park in an FA Cup quarter-final four days later, with the home side winning 2-0.
• Villa's only home defeat in the last 17 league meetings since 1979 came in October 2011, when Paul Scharner scored West Brom's winner. Villa have won in each of the last two seasons courtesy of decisive second-half penalties scored by Christian Benteke.
• All 18 Premier League encounters have ended either as a draw or with a one-goal margin of victory.

Aston Villa

• Villa are winless in four league games for the first time under Tim Sherwood.
• They have dropped six points from winning or drawing positions in the last three matches.
• Defeat on Saturday would leave them with their lowest points tally after six games since the 1986-87 season, when they were last relegated.
• The Villans registered just five Premier League wins at home last season – only Sunderland and relegated Burnley fared worse.
• They have only earned 71 points from 72 league games at Villa Park since December 2011.

West Brom

• Albion have kept a clean sheet in 13 of their 23 Premier League games under Tony Pulis, more than any other side during the same period.
• They have kept four clean sheets in their last six away games, winning three of them and losing just once.
• West Brom could keep three consecutive top-flight away clean sheets for the first time since a club record run of five in a row in 1983.
• The Baggies have the lowest shooting accuracy in the Premier League this season, hitting the target with just 34% of their attempts.
• Rickie Lambert has scored four goals in six Premier League appearances against Aston Villa.