Postpublished at 14:59
West Brom's head of media has his say on the Baggies' possible formation.
Summary
Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Amavi, Westwood, Sanchez, Grealish, Gil, Agbonlahor, Sinclair.
West Brom: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Brunt, Morrison, Fletcher, Yacob, McClean, Berahino, Rondon.
BBC Radio 5 live commentary on this page
Postpublished at 14:59
Big day for Berahinopublished at 14:57
How will West Brom striker Saido Berahino get on in his first start since hinting he'd never play for the club again after they refused to let him join Tottenham?
Image source, Getty ImagesLawro's predictionpublished at 14:57
Rival managers rattle out derby clichespublished at 14:56
Quote MessageDerbies 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.
Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood
Quote MessageDerby 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 and really respect football.
West Brom head coach Tony Pulis
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Tim Sherwood and Tony Pulis shared a slightly menacing looking laugh when they met last season
Postpublished at 14:55
West Brom players are in the tunnel ready to go. And here come Villa's 11 now. Captain Micah Richards has a chat with his mascot. Five minutes to go.
Richards not struggling for confidence...published at 14:53
Aston Villa defender Micah Richards was speaking to Sport magazine this week, external and made this remarkable claim.
Quote MessageWhen I’m fully fit I believe I’m as good as anyone in the England squad. That’s not in a big headed way, that’s just what I believe and I think I’ve proved that. I was 18 when I played for England and I’m a much better player now than I was then. It’s just how football is – people get certain chances and then everything changes. If Stuart Pearce was the manager now I’d probably be the first name on the team sheet.
Micah Richards, Aston Villa defender
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Micah Richards joined Villa on a free transfer this summer and hasn't won a cap since 2012
Postpublished at 14:51
Image source, #bbcfootballNo problems with Lescott - Pulispublished at 14:50
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa defender Joleon Lescott faces his former club today. The 33-year-old Villa fan joined the club from West Brom on deadline day. He made his debut in the 3-2 defeat by Leicester last time out.
Quote MessageJoleon's a wonderful player and a wonderful lad. He wanted to go and they wanted him. That was it, no problems at all. He's been a wonderful player coming to the back-end of a fantastic career so there was no way I was going to stop him
Tony Pulis, West Brom manager
Postpublished at 14:48
Aston Villa v West Brom (15:00 BST)
Image source, #bbcfootball
Image source, .'This is a very good game to play in'published at 14:47
Aston Villa v West Brom (15:00 BST)
Dion Dublin
Former Aston Villa striker on Football Focus"I think Villa will win this game today, comfortably. The pressure is on them now.
"This is a very good game to play in, very very spicy. It will be complete and utter claret and blue, the noise will be amazing and I think Villa will get all three points this afternoon."
Postpublished at 14:44
Image source, .Last time I covered this game, Aston Villa won 4-3. That was only 18 months ago but only two of the six goalscorers are still at either club today.
Would we all settle for a seven-goal thriller today?
Don't expect a routpublished at 14:41
Image source, #bbcfootball'Sherwood has reinvigorated the club'published at 14:40
Aston Villa v West Brom (15:00 BST)
Image source, PAFormer Aston Villa midfielder Ian Taylor on BBC Radio 5 live:
"It's still early in the season and both sides just want to get wins under their belts. Villa were 2-0 up last week but lost the game, so will want to get back on the trail. Villa wilted last week, and hopefully they can be more resilient as the season goes on.
"The last two or three years have not been good stuff at Villa Park, but Tim Sherwood has reinvigorated the club and there's a new sense of optimism around the place. Hopefully a win today and we'll be able to kick on."
Postpublished at 14:39
Image source, PAWest Brom 'will be up for this one'published at 14:38
Simon Brotherton
MOTD commentator at Villa Park"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."
Sherwood wants fans 'tempted' to invade pitchpublished at 14:35
Image source, Getty ImagesTim Sherwood's first two wins as Villa boss were both against West Brom, with the second - in the FA Cup quarter-final - leading to pitch invasions and a £200,000 fine.
Quote MessageMake sure you stay off the pitch. I just hope you get tempted to jump on it. If they are then we've done something right but please stay to the edge on the pitch. Do all your cheering from there.
Tim Sherwood, Aston Villa boss
Team news - Berahino startspublished at 14:34
Aston Villa make one change from the side who lost 3-2 to Leicester as Alan Hutton replaces Leandro Bacuna at right-back. Joleon Lescott starts against his old club.
Image source, #bbcfootballWest Brom make three changes from the side who drew 0-0 with Southampton. The major news is that Saido Berahino replaces Rickie Lambert up front - his first start since threatening to never play for the club again. In midfield James Morrison and James McClean replace Callum McManaman and Craig Gardner.
Image source, #bbcfootballPredict the resultpublished at 14:33
Image source, .Don't forget, you can predict the outcome of this match - and the rest of the weekend's fixtures - in our Premier League Predictor game. You can register your scores here and you have until kick-off time to submit them. Good luck!
Postpublished at 14:31
It's fair to say Tim Sherwood did not enjoy Leicester's comeback victory over Villa last weekend.
But today he faces the opponents against whom he enjoyed two of his finest days as Villa boss.
It's Aston Villa v West Brom.
It's the West Midlands derby.
It's, erm, 15th v 14th.
'Who cares if we played well?'published at 14:30
"I've never felt this bad. Ever. There was a lot of bad play there in the last half hour. The only way you can stop the momentum is to stop the opposition. We turned it over stupidly.
"What can I say? I'm gutted for everyone who's associated with the football club. We have to stop letting in soft goals. Who cares if we played well? We lost. Totally lost."
