Aston Villa aim to continue surge against struggling Bolton

The Trotters arrive at Villa Park rock bottom of the Championship and on a seven-game losing streak in the league, their worst run since 1907.

Boss Phil Parkinson, who received the public backing of majority shareholder Ken Anderson after Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Bristol City, has not seen his team score in the league since August 19, a drought which has now extended past the 10 hour mark.

All of which means that, at first glance, it would appear Villa could not have wished for better opponents as they look to sign off a productive and encouraging month with a fourth straight victory.

If only it were that simple. Nothing, of course, can ever be taken for granted in football and particularly in the Championship or indeed with Villa, a club where supporters are still learning to trust their team again after years of disappointment.

The obvious challenge for Steve Bruce is to guard against complacency, though encouragingly for the Villa boss that is a message already being delivered by senior members of his team, including winger Robert Snodgrass.

“If you’re not on song in the Championship then you get punished,” said the Scot. “You see it week-in, week-out.

“It’s attack, attack, attack – that is the Championship. Blink and it’s a goal.

“We’ve got a good base and a good platform and we’ll be full of confidence for the game.”

Snodgrass was one of Villa’s standout performers in Tuesday’s 4-0 win at Burton and later acknowledged he has begun to find his feet after joining on loan from West Ham last month.

The performance at the Pirelli Stadium was comfortably Villa’s best since Bruce took the helm 11 months ago and for some time before that too.

Progress might have been a little slower than some desired, yet Villa finally looked the team many expected them to be.

In a marathon campaign such as this, there is no such thing as a season-defining result in September.

The turnaround from just a fortnight ago, when Bruce was facing questions over his future, has nevertheless been significant.

Snodgrass, who won promotion with Bruce at Hull two seasons ago, believes things are starting to click.

“The manager has done this before in this division,” he said. “What’s great about him is he gives you a platform to play, he backs you and he’s come under criticism which hasn’t been deserved.

“That’s part and parcel of the game these days. He’s a great man, a great manager and now you’re starting to see it.

“We’re right behind him, the fans are right behind him and we’re looking forward to Saturday.”

Mile Jedinak (groin) and Henri Lansbury (foot) remain Villa’s chief injury concerns.