Neil Taylor: Aston Villa have to prepare as normal for play-off clash

Villa host their rivals in the first leg of a hotly-anticipated semi-final clash, both teams gunning for a Premier League return.

But left-back Taylor claims Dean Smith’s men must treat the encounter as they would any other game.

Villa went on a 12-game unbeaten run to charge into the play-offs over the final weeks of the season.

Taylor said: “There’s pressure on both clubs and it’s great for the fans that there’s that rivalry there.

“Come game day there will be an extra special atmosphere, but we have to prepare in the same way that we have done for these past 12 or 13 games which has served us well.”

Taylor believes Villa are in for a tough test against the Baggies, who were 2-0 winners when the teams last met in February.

“They will think that they have got a great squad, capable of playing in the Premier League. They didn’t lose too many players coming down and they’ve been in the play-off positions for a long time. It makes for a great game.”

Saturday’s game was yesterday confirmed as a complete sell-out with Baggies fans snapping up the remainder of their 2,000-strong allocation at Villa Park.

Defender Tyrone Mings is, meanwhile, set for talks over his future with parent club Bournemouth at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old has been a major factor in Villa’s resurgence since joining on loan from the Cherries in January.