Aston Villa v Norwich City: Canaries have a rare opportunity for a successful trip to the Midlands

Ivo Pinto makes an early exit after his second yellow card. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: �Focus Images Limited www.focus-images.co.uk +447814 482222)

Villa Park, Saturday, 3pm

It's been quite pretty uobeat at Colney, but Villa boss Steve Bruce seems to be trying to paper over some cracks. It just isn't going well for him at Villa Park – there is already chatter that John Terry is being lined up to replace him in the hot-seat. Anyway, the record books show in the league, City have 18 wins over Villa, who have 25. There have been 15 draws. City's last 20 league visits have produced a meagre two wins. All opf which may be irrelevant this afternoon - it's just worht nothing, is all.

Last time...

It's a shouting match for City's interim boss Alex Irvine and Villa's Steve Bruce. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: �Focus Images Limited www.focus-images.co.uk +447814 482222)

Aston Villa v City

(Championship, April 1, 2017)

A goal in each half by Jonathan Kodjia condemned Alan Irvine to defeat in his first match in charge following the departure of Alex Neil. Two yellow cards for Ivo Pinto didn't help matters as he left the field 10 minutes early, with the score 1-0 to Villa. 'At times this season away from home I have been really disappointed with our performances,' said Irvine, with some understatement. 'On this occasion I wasn't, as the team played really well.'

Villa: S Johnstone, A Hutton, J Chester, N Taylor, N Baker, M Jedinak, C Hourihane (G Gardner 69), H Lansbury (A Green 87), A Adomah, S Hogan (J Amavi 37), J Kodjia. Subs not used: J Grealish, J Bree, M Bunn, T Elphick.

Norwich: M McGovern, R Martin, S Whittaker, R Bennett, Ivo Pinto, G Dorrans (S Naismith 45), A Tettey (N Oliveira 76), J Murphy (Y Wildschut 71), A Pritchard, J Howson, C Jerome. Subs not used: J Maddison, J Murphy, J Ruddy, T Klose.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson

Attendance: 32,605

So, to today's game...

Referee: Jeremy Simpson. What a coincidence: Mr Simpson was in charge of this fixture last season. Sent off Ivo Pinto that day. Last time he officiated a match without showing a card was May 3, 2014. So expect a card.

Weather forecast

Looks like being a nice day, albeit with a little bit of cloud.

Betting

(SkyBet)

Norwich win: 19/10

Villa win: 7/5

Draw: 23/10

First scorer

City: Jerome 6/1, Oliveira 13/2, Watkins 15/2, Naismith, Wildschutt, Murphy 9/1

Villa: Hogan 9/2, Agbonlahor 5/1, McCormack, O'Hare 6/1,

No scorer: 9/1

Or...

City to win 2-1 is 9/1; Villa to win 2-0 is 10/1.