One of the standout fixtures in the Championship this weekend comes at Molineux when second-place Wolverhampton Wanderers play host to in-form Aston Villa on Saturday evening.
With a new manager in Nuno Espirito Santo and a whole host of summer signings from across Europe, you may have expected it to take a little time for this Wolves team to gel but they have instead hit the ground running in the early stages of the season.
Having begun the campaign with wins against predicted promotion rivals Middlesbrough, Derby County and Hull City, the west Midlands outfit come into this clash in the automatic promotion places and having won three of their previous four league games.
Meanwhile, Villa were one of the pre-season favourites to go up to the Premier League, but a run of one win in their opening seven Championship fixtures left them in 18th position and the pressure was building on boss Steve Bruce.
However, the Midlands club have tasted victory in their last four matches to jump up to seventh, and they will be full of confidence ahead of the trip to Molineux.
Here are three reasons Villa will make it five wins in a row when they face Wolves…
Momentum
Having endured a difficult start to the campaign, Aston Villa look to be on a roll now and they will carry that momentum with them to Molineux.
It is strange how winning a game of football can produce such confidence throughout a side, but there is no doubt that the comfortable win against Barnsley and the switch to a more traditional 4-4-2 formation has been key to Steve Bruce’s men going on to beat Nottingham Forest, Burton Albion and Bolton Wanderers.
With good quality and in-form players in their team, that momentum could be too much for high-flying Wolves on Saturday.
Defensive record
Steve Bruce would have hoped that the addition of John Terry to the Villa backline would have made it even stronger this term than it was at points last season.
However, the Midlands outfit conceded nine goals in their opening five Championship fixtures as Bruce trialled a number of different formations and systems.
The tide did turn though, and Villa have conceded just once in their previous six league games using a traditional 4-4-2 formation with Glenn Whelan sitting in front of the back four, and it seems to have made them a lot more solid.
Bruce will also know that if his side can keep another clean sheet at Molinuex, they will only need one goal at the other end to take all three points and extend their winning run.
Attacking firepower
Villa will know that they need to be strong going forward to get at least one goal, and a number of their attack-minded players are in form and certainly have the capabilities to do that right now.
Last season’s top goalscorer Jonathan Kodjia scored the winner and his first this term from the penalty spot against Bolton previously, while his strike partner Keinan Davis has two goals and two assists in eight Championship appearances.
Summer transfer window addition Robert Snodgrass looks to have settled and was instrumental in the 4-0 success against Burton Albion, while on the opposite flank Albert Adomah has netted four goals in his last four league games.
With Conor Hourihane scoring five from central midfield, there is no doubt that Villa have the goals throughout the team that they need to come out on top against Wolves.
Do you agree, Villa fans? Let us know below.
