Yannick Bolasie: Aston Villa facing toughest run of the season
Villa have been told to prepare for their toughest run of the season – starting with Sunday’s Second City Derby.
The clash with rivals Blues begins a pre-Christmas schedule which also includes meetings with four of the Championship’s current top seven.
Villa currently sit 11th in the table and winger Yannick Bolasie expects the period to provide a test of their promotion credentials.
He said: “This is probably the toughest run of our season. That will really tell us where we’re really at.
“But the Derby performance (before the international break) shows that when everyone is on song, that is what we can do.”
After Blues, Villa host Nottingham Forest next Wednesday before a trip to second-placed Middlesbrough.
Another derby, this time at Albion, then comes ahead of home games with Stoke and Leeds.
Bolasie, who is on a season-long loan from Everton, reckons Villa have more than enough quality to challenge.
But he added: “We’re not just going to get there without a fight. No team will just let us win in this league.
“It’s up to us to put on performances like we did at Derby.
“We’ve set a standard and I’m sure the gaffer and JT have said that too. We need to keep that standard where it is.”
Villa are continuing to sweat over the fitness of skipper James Chester ahead of Sunday’s game.
The centre-back suffered a knee injury while playing for Wales against Denmark on Friday night and is being assessed.
