I think it's fair to say that we're at the business end of the season. We are sixth but the team in 10th can go ahead of us should we lose and they win. The team we meet later today, are also only four points behind us.
And that team is Sheffield Wednesday, managed by Steve Bruce. Oh, Steve Bruce. I've not written about Bruce much since he left because he's part of the history of this Club, not the future, but it's nice to get the chance again, to put things to bed. And he's done okay, in the Steve Bruce way, since taking over at Sheffield Wednesday. I mean, he's not lost yet.
And I wont go into detail about Bruce, because I've already done it so many times before and I've also done it this week for someone in Sheffield. I get approached before every match to see if I'll answer questions and I never do it, but I did for a Sheffield Wednesday this week, because I wanted them to have an opinion from me.
It went along the lines of Steve Bruce is a Championship manager and I'd not be surprised if he got you promoted. Nor would I be surprised if he got you relegated.
And that is what Steve Bruce is about and I'll not change my view now that he's gone. But he has gone and we have to beat them today. And like I wrote above, they've not lost since he took over so it's not going to be easy. But when you watch the video below, you'll see the manager wants to go there and win and that's nice.
Video
Match facts from the BBC
- Sheffield Wednesday have lost four of their past five home league matches against Aston Villa, winning the other in August 2016.
- Aston Villa have not won consecutive league games against Sheffield Wednesday since January 1997.
- Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in 12 league matches (W6 D6 L0), their best run since August 2012 (17 matches).
- Steve Bruce - who managed and lost in this fixture earlier this season as Aston Villa boss - could become the first manager to lose a Football League fixture in charge of both teams in a single season since Paul Cook during 2012-13, who lost as manager of both Accrington and Chesterfield in their two League Two meetings that term.
- Since Steve Bruce's first Championship match in charge of Sheffield Wednesday on 2 February, Barry Bannan has registered five assists - the joint-most in the division along with Kamil Grosicki.
- Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn has been involved in five goals in his past three Championship appearances (3 goals, 2 assists).