Fans Forum: Midlands title at stake for Albion

For those of a certain age, this was always the most important derby game. Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers rarely made it into the top flight, and the proximity to each other always made for a fierce rivalry. For the immediate future, this game will be the only one to give the fans some bragging rights.

With Villa's recent fall from grace, and their league struggles, it has left West Bromwich Albion as the obvious favourites. One look at the squads and there is an undoubted difference in quality, with the Baggies having by far the strongest squad, possessing more options in game plans. But, this is a derby and as with all derbies the form book goes out the window. From our perspective, Villa's strength will be the Lukaku lookalike Benteke, and of course that pest Agbonlahor, who always seems to score against us. Their weaknesses are there for all to see: a very brittle defence that lack pace and a midfield that threatens to get overrun every time they pass over the white line. For me, that will be the key to the game, boss the midfield and hit the defence with pace, jobs for Youssouf Mulumbu, Claudio Yacob, Stephane Sessegnon, Shane Long and Morgan Amalfitano. So, for that reason my choice of squad almost picks itself, I wonder how the ever improving Steve Clarke will see it. Personally, the draw of a derby being played under the floodlights is one I just cant wait for.