West Brom are struggling to get out as Aston Villa come forward again, this time Matt Targett's cross from the left deflects towards goal but Sam Johnstone is alert to the danger and holds at his near post.

Lots of early possession from the hosts. Bertrand Traore tries to get a couple of balls into the box but they are both dealt with.

Aston Villa get the action under way.

There were some concerns over Ollie Watkins as he was spotted wandering down the tunnel with the Aston Villa doctor during the warm up but he's emerged for kick off, so appears to be OK.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Almost time for kick off in the derby and you can listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sounds and via this page.

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Sam Allardyce was desperate to bring in a striker in January, but keeping out goals at the other end of the pitch has been a real issue for them this season.

The Baggies have conceded 62 league goals this season - only three teams across Europe's top five leagues have conceded more in 2020-21.

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Aston Villa beat West Brom 3-0 when the two sides last met back in December.

Villa could achieve their first league double over West Brom since the 2008-09 season, when the Baggies were relegated to the Championship.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Aston Villa gave Manchester City a decent game on Wednesday night but still ended up being beaten.

If they play like that against West Brom, though, I think Villa will take the points. The Baggies have put up a bit of a fight in recent weeks, but I don't see them staying up - they have left themselves too much to do.

Prediction: 2-1

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The headline team news for Aston Villa is on the substitutes bench. Brazilian striker Wesley is among the subs and could make his first appearance since suffering a serious knee ligament injury on 1 January 2020.

Ross Barkley returns as Dean Smith freshens up his side by making three changes following the midweek defeat to leaders Manchester City.

Anwar El Ghazi and Ahmed Elmohamady are also given the nod as Matty Cash (suspended), Marvelous Nakamba and Jacob Ramsey drop out.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Luiz, Barkley, Traore, Watkins, El Ghazi.

Substitutes: Heaton, Taylor, Wesley, Nakamba, Engels, Hause, Davis, Ramsey, Philogene-Bidace.

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Sam Allardyce reacts to West Brom's tame 3-0 defeat at Leicester by making two changes.

Out go Dara O'Shea and Matt Phillips. In come Semi Ajayi and Conor Gallagher.

West Brom XI: Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend, Gallagher, Yokuslu, Maitland-Niles, Robinson, Pereira, Diagne.

Substitutes: Robson-Kanu, Livermore, Phillips, Diangana, Sawyers, Peltier, Button, O'Shea, Ahearne-Grant.

Ten points adrift from safety, albeit with a game in hand. West Brom are not just drinking in the Last Chance Saloon but are on the verge of being told they've had enough.

Put simply, they have to win tonight to keep alive the already pretty faint glimmer of survival.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, have their eyes on a top 10 finish and are certainly not going to make things easy for the Baggies.

Should be in for a good un.

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Curriculum Vitae

Name: Sam Allardyce

Current role: West Brom manager

Experience: Managed numerous teams in the Premier League. Has never been relegated.

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OK, Sam Allardyce's actual CV is probably a bit more detailed than the above, but one thing that I am sure stands proudly on it is that line about never being relegated from the Premier League.

It is, however, in serious danger of being scrubbed off and no doubt West Brom's fierce rivals Aston Villa would love the chance to push Allardyce further towards having to reach for the Tippex...