Wolves vs Aston Villa: Confirmed Lineups & 8 Interesting Stats Ahead of the West Midlands Derby

10 November 2019 01:39

​It's derby day in the ​Premier League on Sunday, as Wolves and Aston Villa battle it out at Molineux for bragging rights over the West Midlands. 

Four places and half as many points separate these two sides, who are situated just 27 kilometres apart. Nuno Espirito Santo's ​Wolves side reside in relative mid-table obscurity, sitting in 12th place after amassing 13 points from 11 games. 

Meanwhile Dean Smith's Villa side languish near the relegation zone in 16th place, having picked up only three wins from their opening 11 games, giving them a grand total of 11 points. 

Whether you are a Dingle, a Villan, a Wolf or a Lion, a derby is a derby and the importance of such a game can't be overstated. So with that in mind, here are eight facts and stats to help you stand out from your chums, courtesy of our friends at Opta.


Wolf Pack

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Slovan Bratislava: Group K - UEFA Europa League

They say good things come in threes, and the Wanderers will be hoping for a third league victory over Villa in just four league games.

Wolves have won two of their last three league games against Aston Villa (all in the Championship), and that's more than they had managed in their previous 15 against the Villans (W1 D5 L9).


Nine and Counting

Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Sky Bet Championship

​Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last nine top-flight away games against Wolves since a 1-3 loss in May 1978 (W6 D3).

The Claret and Blues are unbeaten in all four of their Premier League games at Molineux (W3 D1).


We Meet Again

Patrick Cutrone

​You know that annoying neighbour that you can't help but bump into every day despite trying to avoid them? That must be how Wolves and Villa feel about each other. 

Aston Villa beat Wolves by two goals to one in their League Cup meeting last month – they last beat them twice in the same season in the 2003/04 Premier League campaign.

With another fixture between the two set to take place in April, these two just can't get enough of each other. 


Happy Hunting Ground

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Southampton FC - Premier League

Every team has one stadium they love playing at. For Villa, it just so happens to be located 26 minutes away by car.

Only at Portman Road (5) and the City Ground (5) have Aston Villa played more Premier League games without defeat than they have at Molineux (4).


Throwing it Away

Tom Heaton

Aston Villa fans will quite rightly be worried about the number of points that their side have dropped after being in the lead in the 2019/20 campaign.

Aston Villa have dropped 11 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season – more than any other side.


Burn Out?

John Terry,Dean Smith

No side has conceded fewer first half goals in the Premier League than Aston Villa this season (3), while the Villans have conceded more second half goals than any other side (15).


If only Smith could get his team competing in both halves, ey?


50 Up for Ra-Wolf

Raul Jimenez

Wolves forward Raúl Jiménez will become just the second Mexican player to appear in 50 Premier League games upon his selection here, along with Javier Hernandez. Jiménez has scored 17 goals and assisted nine in his first 49 games.

The Mexican maestro is in good company indeed. 


Can Wesley Snipe Again?

Wesley

With four goals, one assist, 223 minutes per goal and a 75% accuracy for shots on target, Wesley is no doubt one of the better performers in Aston Villa's season so far.


Three of Wesley’s four Premier League goals for Villa this season have been scored away from home, with these goals coming in the Brazilian’s last three games on the road.

Can the 22-year-old make it four in a row? 

Source: 90min