Aston Villa will be looking to improve on their disappointing start to the Championship season when they host one of the other pre-season favourites for promotion at Villa Park on Tuesday night in the form of Middlesbrough.
Steve Bruce’s men have won just one of their opening six fixtures to leave them in 18th position, despite bringing the likes of John Terry, Glenn Whelan and Ahmed Elmohamady to the club during the summer transfer window.
Villa were held to a goalless draw by Brentford at Villa Park on Saturday, and it was once again their lack of cutting edge that cost them – something that was also a huge problem as they finished 13th last term.
It certainly won’t be an easy task to take all three points when they host Garry Monk’s Boro side either, with the Teesside outfit recovering from taking just one point from two league fixtures by comfortably beating Bolton Wanderers 3-0 at the Macron Stadium last the weekend.
The win was their first in 13 months away from home and they will travel to the Midlands in confident mood on Tuesday.
Here are four key battles that will decide the result when Villa host Middlesbrough…
Neil Taylor vs Adama Traore
Former Aston Villa man Traore has electric pace and loves to run at opposition full-backs, but he has struggled to find that quality in the final third when needed – until Saturday that is.
The 21-year-old winger assisted both of Britt Assombalonga’s goals in the 3-0 win against Bolton, and the former Barcelona man is likely to be one of his side’s biggest attacking threats when he makes his return to Villa Park.
Taylor is an experienced defender but he will know that he could have a really tough task on his hands in trying to keep the Spaniard quiet.
John Terry vs Britt Assombalonga
Two of the stand-out signings by Championship clubs during the summer transfer window come up against each other on Tuesday night when Terry will be tasked with stopping an in-form Assombalonga.
The Villa captain will not be pleased with the start the defence has made to the season after conceding nine goals in their opening six league fixtures, and he will know that he will need to be at his best to stop the threat from Assombalonga.
Middlesbrough signed the prolific 24-year-old from Nottingham Forest for a club-record £15m fee in July and he has already scored four Championship goals for them this term, including two against Bolton on Saturday.
Scott Hogan vs Ben Gibson
Keinan Davis has led the line for Aston Villa ever since he impressed after being handed a start in the win over Norwich City last month, but he could lose his place in the team for the visit of Middlesbrough.
The 19-year-old was taken off on the hour-mark against Brentford on Saturday after struggling to make an impact, and he could be replaced by the more experienced Hogan on Tuesday night as Steve Bruce searches for goals.
The former Brentford man has struggled with injury and form since making the move to Villa Park from the Bees during the January transfer window, although he has scored three goals in two EFL Cup appearances this term.
If he does start Hogan will be coming up against one of the best centre-backs in the division in Gibson though, who was one of his team’s stand-out players in the Premier League last term despite their relegation.
Robert Snodgrass vs Cyrus Christie
Steve Bruce boosted his squad with the signing of West Ham winger Snodgrass on a season-long loan deal towards the end of August, and the Scot could be handed his full debut against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.
The 30-year-old came off the substitutes’ bench against Brentford on Saturday but he couldn’t help Villa find the breakthrough against the Bees.
Snodgrass is likely to be handed a start against Boro with Andre Green injured and Keinan Davis struggling to make an impression last time out, and he will be looking to provide some ammunition and quality from the left-hand side – something he did for Hull City at this level two seasons ago.
If he does start he will come up against right-back Christie, who has been an ever-present and solid performer for the Teesside outfit so far this season after moving to the Riverside Stadium from Derby County during the summer.
Do you agree, Villa and Boro fans? Let us know below.
