Undercover police will be on trains and trams between Birmingham and the Black Country tomorrow to deal with any violence during the clash between Wolves and Villa.

Officers will be on alert ahead of the first league meeting between the two Midlands rivals in more than five years at Molineux.

British Transport Police has announced additional manpower will be drafted in across the area for the match, which kicks off at 12.45pm and will be screened live on television.

More than 2,700 Villa fans will be descending on Wolverhampton from across the region after all the visitors’ £38 tickets sold out, with many of those expected to use the Midland Metro or catch trains into the city.

Chief Inspector Kevin Marshall, from the Wales and Western region of the BTP, said they would devote “considerable resources” to ensuring the safe and orderly movements of football fans on the rail network.

“We will have additional officers on duty across the area as a reassuring presence, but also teams of covert officers to gather intelligence and point out offenders to uniform officers,” he said.

“Any rogue elements will be dealt with swiftly and anyone who seeks to engage in disorder will be prosecuted.

“If the incident is football-related, BTP will actively seek to take out Football Banning Orders out against any offenders.”