Premier League: West Brom v Aston Villa Preview

A look ahead to the weekend Premier League fixture at the Hawthornes

Christian Benteke (GETTY IMAGES)

West Brom will go into this 160th Midlands derby having taken eight out of a possible 12 points in the last four Premier League fixtures between the two.

A win would take West Brom up to sixth place as Arsenal do not play until Sunday, whilst Villa could escape from the relegation zone if they pick up anything from their trip, depending on how other teams around them get on.

The game could come down to the two Belgian strikers of either side. Roman Lukaku is West Brom’s top goalscorer so far this season with nine. The Villains main threat will come from Christian Benteke who has scored six goals in his debut season with Villa so far.

KICK-OFF: Saturday 5.30pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS...

Aston Villa 1 (Bent) West Brom 1 (Long), Premier League, September 2012

West Brom 0 Aston Villa 0, Premier League, April 2012

Aston Villa 1 (Bent) West Brom 2 (Olsson, Scharner), October 2011

MATCH STATS...

Five of the last seven matches has ended up with a team winning 2-1.

The last time Aston Villa beat West Brom away from home. Gabriel Agbonlahor scored the winner in a 2-1 victory.

159 derbies so far, Villa have been the victors 74 times, drawing 33, with West Brom accumulating 52 wins of their own.

Aston Villa have not beaten Premier League opposition in their last seven matches.

MATCH ODDS...

West Brom 1.77

Draw 3.55

Aston Villa 5.4

TV: Live on ESPN at 5.30pm.