Aston Villa v West Brom: Five key battles that could decide derby

Here are five of the key contests that could be crucial on the day.

1 Tammy Abraham v Ahmed Hegazi

Abraham has been by far Villa’s main threat and his goals have been crucial to the claret and blues, even more so recently as Dean Smith’s men have struggled to keep the ball out of their own net.

His goal in the late, late comeback 3-3 draw against Sheffield United was his 20th of the season, making him equal second top scorer in the Championship.

His link-up play has been one of the highlights of Villa’s play this season too and Albion will be rightly thinking ‘Stop Abraham and you stop Villa’.

That’s where Ahmed Hegazi comes in. After a man-of-the-match performance against Stoke, he was badly missed for Tuesday’s 2-2 draw against Forest

2 John McGinn v Gareth Barry

In the absence of playmaker Jack Grealish, out since the reverse fixture in early December, John McGinn has been pushed firther up the pitch for Villa. The Scot is the engine for Villa and has, at times, looked like he is carrying the whole team.

Should he come up against former Villa skipper Barry, it could make for a very interesting head-to-head. Barry has the class and footballing nous to move the ball around and McGinn could find himself chasing shadows if the Albion man is given space to pick his passes.

One the other hand, 25-year-old McGinn has the energy to give 38-year-old Barry the runaround if Albion are not careful. Could be a head-to-head to relish.

3 Anwar El Ghazi v Kieran Gibbs

The first encounter between the pair at The Hawthorns a couple of months ago saw El Ghazi’s finest performance in a claret and blue shirt since joining.

It was also a contest Gibbs’ will be happy to forget. The former Arsenal full-back was given the runaround by the Villa winger whose brace looked like decising the first encounter until the hand of Rod rescued a point for Albion deep into injury time. The good news for Gibbs, however, is that El Ghazi’s form has yet to match that performance and he has shown only glimpses of his best stuff since. Gibbs, on the other hand, has improved as the season has gone on and looks every bit the classy defender that came through the ranks at Arsenal.

4 Neil Taylor v Jacob Murphy

Since returning to the side following the arrival of Dean Smith, Taylor had been given a run of games at left-back until missing Wednesday’s defeat to Brentford. However, despite becoming one of the whipping boys for the Villa crowd, he could well regain his place at the first opportunity after Kortney Hause failed to impress on debut.

Whoever plays at left-back, this could be the area to exploit for Albion’s Jacob Murphy.

The pacy wideman will be looking to show why Darren Moore brought him in on loan from Newcastle and Taylor will have his work cut out as Albion pour forward in numbers.

Murphy, doubling up with Mason Holgate on their right flank, could be a major asset.

5 Tyrone Mings v Jay Rodriuguez

With Dwight Gayle ruled out by a two-match ban after the FA’s diving charge against the Newcastle loanee, Albion’s main goal threat will come through Jay Rodriguez.

And Jay-Rod can expect a red-hot reception from the Villa Park faithful for his own Hand of Rod equaliser in the reverse fixture in December.

Also waiting for him will be Tyrone Mings, who joined Villa on loan from Bournemouth in January. Mings has impressed in an otherwise leaky Villa defence in his first couple of games in claret and blue.

Rodriguez has been in impressive form and he is sure to fancy his chances of adding to his 16 Championship goals tomorrow.