Aston Villa v West Brom: The last five meetings
It's that time of the year when the Play-Offs come around, and this year one of the Championship semi-finals will be contested between local rivals Aston Villa and West Brom.
The two sides have produced some engaging battles throughout the years, with the Baggies running out victorious last time out with a 2-0 win at Villa Park in February.
But how have the other recent meetings between the two sides gone? Take a look at the past five meetings between the teams.
Aston Villa 0 West Brom 2 - 16 February 2019
West Brom came out on top of the last meeting between the two sides back in February which kept them within six points of top spot in the Championship, whilst Villa were left seven points adrift of the play-off places.
On this occasion, two goals in four late first-half minutes disposed of a punchless Aston Villa side.
With top scorer Tammy Abraham firing blanks for once, Villa were well beaten as their total of home goals conceded this season rose to 32 in 17 games, the worst in English football's top four divisions.
Hal Robson-Kanu headed the first on 41 minutes, before Baggies joint top scorer Jay Rodriguez fired home a 20-yard shot off the post just four minutes later, although a subtle deflection took it beyond Villa keeper Lovre Kalinic.
West Brom 2 Aston Villa 2 - 7 December 2018
This Friday night encounter last December ended in controversial fashion as West Brom claimed a point with just minutes remaining.
Jay Rodriguez bundled in a controversial injury-time equaliser with his hand as the Baggies twice came from behind to draw a dramatic derby.
Two Anwar El Ghazi goals - one wickedly defected off Ahmed Hegazi, the second a stunner - had looked set to lift Dean Smith's Villa into the Championship top six and earn them a third-straight away win.
But, from Matt Phillips' right-wing cross, Villa keeper Orjan Nyland was found wanting as Rodriguez bravely nipped in ahead of him and the ball bounced in off his hand while the striker was on the floor.
The draw left Albion just three points off the top two, whilst Villa trailed sixth place by two points.
West Brom 0 Aston Villa 0 - 23 January 2016
With Villa enduring a wretched campaign and Albion looking lacklustre in front of this goal, it was unsurprising this Premier League clash ended in a dire stalemate.
A mild consolation for the visitors is that they avoided a defeat for a third successive Premier League match, however they remained cut adrift at the bottom of the table.
Villa should have been awarded a first-half penalty when Jordan Ayew was fouled by Albion defender Jonas Olsson.
Albion failed to register a single shot on target, although Craig Dawson headed over and Stephane Sessegnon slashed wide after the break.
Villa rarely threatened with Ashley Westwood's low shot their best effort.
Aston Villa 0 West Brom 1 - 19 September 2015
West Brom went home with the bragging rights in this early season clash, as Villa continued their poor start to the Premier League season.
Saido Berahino scored on his first start since threatening to go on strike as the Baggies comfortably dealt with a lacklustre Villa side throughout.
Albion edged the first half and almost took the lead within 60 seconds when Salomon Rondon's header was palmed away by Brad Guzan.
Their breakthrough came soon before the break when Berahino stuck out a foot to steer James Morrison's shot home.
Villa improved slightly after the break but never looked like equalising.
Aston Villa 2 West Brom 0 - 7 March 2015
Aston Villa sealed a place in the FA Cup semi-final and a first trip to Wembley in five years with a second victory inside a week over fierce West Midlands rivals West Brom.
In a game marred by ugly crowd scenes involving both sets of supporters towards the end, Villa secured the win with second-half goals by Fabian Delph and Scott Sinclair.
An already powder-keg atmosphere was ignited when West Brom's Claudio Yacob was harshly sent off for a second yellow card just before Sinclair wrapped up the win with Villa's second.
In the dying seconds, the home side were also reduced to 10 men as substitute Jack Grealish received two yellow cards within the last 16 minutes, the last one for simulation.
