Blackburn Rovers prove a stark warning sign for Aston Villa as teams prepare for battle

Their latest opponents, Blackburn Rovers, are no exception. Crowned Premier League champions in 1995, the primary focus little more than two decades on is survival in the second tier.

Rovers were only relegated from the Premier League in 2012 and after two close shaves with the play-off positions their trajectory has been decidedly down with Owen Coyle's team arriving at Villa Park with only Rotherham below them in the table.

Coyle, who ended two years away from the English game when he took the job at Ewood Park in June, has been given very little leeway in the transfer market. The season has been notable for protests against owners Venky's – who most supporters blame for the club's fall from an established Premier League force.

All of which is of course irrelevant for a Villa team looking to build on the strong start to Steve Bruce's reign. Sunday's 1-1 derby draw at Blues might not have been the best performance but continued the new manager's unbeaten start.

Now, Villa will be heavily favoured to extend their unbeaten run to five matches and earn a second straight home victory – in the kind of game players acknowledge they need to win.

"We feel we need to bounce back," explained derby goalscorer Gary Gardner this week. "It felt like a loss, getting a draw against Birmingham City. We wanted to go to St Andrew's and win. That confidence is a good thing."

Still, anyone who has watched Villa in recent years knows things rarely come easily and they have not won two straight at home since May 2015. No wonder visiting skipper Jason Lowe believes the pressure will be firmly on the hosts.

"It's a big game, they'll be up for it as the home team and they are looking to bounce back into the top league," he said. "The pressure will be on them a little bit, but we'll go there and try and do what we've been doing, play our stuff that we know we can do, and I'm positive we can get a good result.

"There's a great group of lads in that dressing room fighting for the cause to try to turn it around and I'm confident we can do."

Rovers, who have lost six out of eight on their travels this term, have been handed a boost with the news defender Charlie Mulgrew is fit to return after being forced off during last weekend's 1-1 draw with Wolves with a tight calf, though a dislocated shoulder will keep Watford loanee Tommie Hoban out of the action.

Villa will be without the suspended Jordan Ayew and Leandro Bacuna will again miss out with with a groin problem. Winger Albert Adomah continues to be assessed for a dead leg, while striker Rudy Gestede could return.