Villa head into Sunday’s Second-City showdown against Birmingham with renewed hope they could make a late surge for fourth spot.

Boss Martin O’Neill has already claimed his claret and blue side will need to win all of their remaining three games to stand a chance of clinching a Champions League place.

Wednesday’s win at Hull has moved the Villans above Liverpool into sixth, just three points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham and one behind Manchester City, albeit having played a game more than the pair.

It looks set to be a thrilling climax to the campaign with the fight virtually certain to go down to the final day.

Here, three Midlands football greats, former Villa favourite Ian Taylor, ex-Blues man Martin O’Connor and Albion legend Cyrille Regis give their verdict on who will emerge victorious.

Ian Taylor

I fear it’s going to be a case of so near yet so far for Villa.
Their last two wins over Portsmouth and Hull have given everyone real hope the Champions League dream could become a reality but, if that’s renewed belief around here, imagine what Tottenham’s wins over Arsenal and Chelsea have done for them.
No one saw those brilliant back-to-back victories coming and my suspicion is they will prove decisive come the final day.
I don’t see Villa getting beaten again this season but I think they will struggle to win at Manchester City, however the fifth place I’ve got them down for would represent a significant achievement with City and Liverpool behind them.

TOTTENHAM
Man Utd v Tottenham D
Tottenham v Bolton H
Man City v Tottenham A
Burnley v Tottenham A
Total points 71

VILLA
Villa v Birmingham H
Man City v Villa D
Villa v Blackburn H
Total points 68

MAN CITY
Arsenal v Man City H
Man City v Aston Villa D
Man City v Tottenham A
West Ham v Man City A
Total points 66

LIVERPOOL
Burnley v Liverpool A
Liverpool v Chelsea A
Hull v Liverpool A
Total points 65

Martin O’Connor
It would be great for Midlands football, we want Midlands teams to do well and obviously play in Europe.
They’ve had a great season and now have a few big clubs vying for their players. It’s been a fantastic achievement and if they do it they deserve it.
But Tottenham and Manchester City have the momentum at the moment.
I’d like to see Villa do it but only after they lose to Blues on Sunday, although it’s going to be a struggle.
Even if they don’t, it’s been a successful season for them having reached a cup final and a cup semi-final.

MAN CITY
Arsenal v Man City D
Man City v Villa H
Man City v Tottenham H
West Ham v Man City A
Total points 72

TOTTENHAM
Man Utd v Tottenham H
Tottenham v Bolton H
Man City v Tottenham H
Burnley v Tottenham A
Total points 70

LIVERPOOL
Burnley v Liverpool A
Liverpool v Chelsea D
Hull v Liverpool A
Total points 66

VILLA
Villa v Birmingham A
Man City v Villa H
Villa v Blackburn H
Total points 64

Cyrille Regis
“I definitely think Villa still have a chance and while it’s mathematically possibly they still have to think they are in with a shout.
“They obviously aren’t favourites but we have seen in the last week or so that things can change very quickly, as they did with Manchester United putting a dent in Manchester City and Tottenham getting good results against Chelsea and Arsenal.
“Villa will be buoyant after winning at Hull and I’m sure they will keep on believing right to the end.”

TOTTENHAM
Man Utd v Tottenham H
Tottenham v Bolton H
Man City v Tottenham D
Burnley v Tottenham A
Total points 71

VILLA
Villa v Birmingham H
Man City v Villa D
Villa v Blackburn H
Total points 68

MAN CITY
Arsenal v Man City H
Man City v Aston Villa D
Man City v Tottenham D
West Ham v Man City H
Total points 67

LIVERPOOL
Burnley v Liverpool A
Liverpool v Chelsea A
Hull v Liverpool A
Total points 65