Dominic Iorfa trips Jack Grealish in the area.

Image source, Rex Features

An Albert Adomah corner causes major panic in the Wolves defence.

Visiting keeper Carl Ikeme and Danny Batth get in one another's way but fortunately for them the ball evades all the waiting players behind them and Wolves clear.

12 minutes played.

Aston Villa have an attacking free-kick of their own.

Jack Grealish is tripped on the edge of the area by Conor Coady.

Albert Adomah's ball comes to nothing.

Aston Villa full-back Aly Ciossokho is possibly a touch fortunate not to be in the book.

He's already been pulled up for three fouls.

Wolves are on top so far.

The visitors have another attacking free-kick moments after a deep one just misses everyone at the back post.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Image source, Ged Scott

"Wolves have a following of just under 3,000 in what looks to be a little short of a capacity crowd. And, in the run up to kick-off, they were the only ones who appear to making any noise.

"But that all changes with the arrival of the two teams, followed shortly after by the theatrical introduction and warm reception for Steve Bruce."

Helder Costa fires a free-kick over the bar from 25 yards out when a cross looked to have been a better option for the Wolves man.

Wolves captain Dave Edwards gets this Midlands derby under way.

Image source, Rex Features

The new Aston Villa boss is given a heroes' welcome by the home fans.

They are desperate for some positivity and they firmly believe Bruce can be the man to turn the club around.

The former Birmingham boss has been promoted in his last four seasons managing in the Championship.

New boss Steve Bruce thinks Aston Villa can still earn promotion back to the Premier League this season.

The Villans currently sit in the bottom three of the Championship and are 10 points outside the top six.

However Bruce told BBC WM: "If I' don't think I could do it, I wouldn't be here.

"There's no honeymoon period. We've got 35 games to go. That's a lot of time to do something.

"When I came to Birmingham in 2001, we were 15th at Christmas and still got up via the play offs."

Image source, Getty Images

It's over four years since these two last met.

Villa prevailed 3-2 at Molineux in January 2012 with former Wolves striker Robbie Keane scoring twice to give the Villans a rare away win.

Wolves ended the season in bottom place in the Premier League as Villa ultimately survived by two points.

We'll soon find out if absence has made the heart grow fonder...

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Villa Park

"Steve Bruce's first game in charge this Saturday, at home to one of Villa's main local rivals Wolves, draws an obvious comparison with how it all began for him when appointed Birmingham manager in December 2001.

"His reign as Blues boss also started with a game against Wolves - a 2-1 defeat at Molineux.

"It adds to the irony that Bruce could so easily have been in charge of Wolves.

"He was interviewed following Mick McCarthy's sacking in February 2012 and thought he had actually been offered the job, only for the Wolves board to change their mind following negative reaction on social media when news of his impending appointment leaked out."

New Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce hands a first league start of the season to former England defender Micah Richards. Forward Ross McCormack is also recalled.

Aston Villa: Gollini, Richards, Elphick, Chester, Cissokho, Adomah, Grealish, Jedinak, Tschibola, McCormack, Kodjia.

Wolves head coach Walter Zenga makes three changes from the side that was beaten 2-1 by Norwich City prior to the international break, as Conor Coady, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Kortney Hause come in for Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Ivan Cavaleiro and Joao Teixeira.

Wolves: Ikeme, Doherty, Edwards, Batth, Boady, Costa, Iorfa, Oniangue, Bodvarsson, Saiss, Hause.

Image source, Rex Features

It's fair to say that the managerial position at Aston Villa has not been a job that has offered a great deal of stability over the last two years.

Since Paul Lambert was sacked in January 2015 Villa have been through three full-time bosses and two caretaker managers.

Roberto di Matteo was shown the door earlier this month after a run of just one win in his 11 league matches in charge at Villa Park.

Steve Bruce was appointed as the Italian's successor on Wednesday and Villa fans will hope he can turn around their flagging fortunes. And quickly.

Image source, Getty Images

It's fair to say it's been a disastrous start to the season for Aston Villa and they start this evening's match in the Championship relegation zone.

Backed by big money from new chairman Dr Tony Xia the Villans have won just once, been knocked out of the EFL Cup by League Two Luton and summer appointment Roberto di Matteo was sacked after 124 days in charge.

New boss Steve Bruce thinks the club can still achieve promotion this season but for that to be the case they desperately need to improve on a scoring rate of less than a goal a game.

Today's opponents Wolves have had a mixed start to life under Walter Zenga. The Molineux side have won four, drawn three and lost four of their opening 11 Championship games.

A draw today then?

That win for Derby takes them up into 19th position. 

And that's even with them having the worst shot conversion rate in the Championship this season, scoring with just 4% of their shots (including blocks).

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

In League One, Bradford City suffered their first defeat of the season losing 1-0 away at Oxford United.

League leaders Scunthorpe came from behind to win 2-1 at home to MK Dons.

In League Two Carlisle are now the only unbeaten side in the EFL.

The Cumbrians, who were reduced to 10-men when Shaun Miller was sent off in the 56th minute, scored late on to beat Hartlepool 3-2.

Plymouth remain top of League Two courtesy of an 89th-minute equaliser from Connor Brown against Portsmouth.

Image source, Rex Features

• Steve McClaren wins his first match back at Derby County, beating Leeds United thanks to substitute Johnny Russell's second-half goal.
• Norwich City beat Rotherham United at Carrow Road to move to the top of the Championship table.
• Newcastle United win 3-1 at home to Brentford, with striker Dwight Gayle scoring twice.
• Fulham twice come from behind to win 4-2 at Barnsley, who have Josh Scowen sent off.
• Preston score a late equaliser to draw 2-2 at Brighton, QPR are held 1-1 at home to Reading and Blackburn against Ipswich ends goalless.

Newcastle are up to second in the Championship.

A double from Dwight Gayle and Ciaran Clark's early header was enough for the Magpies.