Wolves v Aston Villa: First acid test for Steve Bruce's side

Booed off after successive goal-less draws against Brentford and Middlesbrough at the start of the month, Villa shot to the top of the form table with four wins on the bounce to take 14 points from a possible 18 in September.

Boss Steve Bruce witnessed what he called ‘mass hysteria’ that comes with the territory of managing the claret and blues, from calls for his head at the start of the month to his name being chanted from the Holte End after their latest victory.

Yet despite having garnered one more point than Wolves during the past month and having closed to within one place and one point of the Championship play-off places, there remains a feeling among Villa supporters that tomorrow represents the true acid test of Villa’s recent revival.

Although 12 points from the last 12 – part of an undefeated run of eight games – has the Villa dreamers believing again, the realists in B6 know those four victories came against Barnsley, Nottingham Forest, Burton Albion and Bolton Wanderers.

And while it remains a football truism that you can only beat the sides that are put in front of you, all of Villa’s recent victories have come against sides who look more than likely to be bouncing around the wrong end of the division come May, if not down with the dead men.

And while the trip to the Black Country to a Wolves side brimming with goals and attacking intent will have some baiting their breath, it also offers Villa a perfect opportunity to stamp their own credentials on the Championship.

There will of course be a real clash of footballing cultures on display at Molineux – Wolves with runners looking to open up their West Midlands rivals, while Villa are likely to try to absorb pressure and hit their hosts with the pace and direct threat offered by Jonathan Kodjia.

How the Ivory Coast frontman performs is likely to be key to Villa’s performance, but probably more so will be the midfield quartet.

On the wings Albert Adomah has found a rich vein of form with goals coming along the way and Robert Snodgrass has clear Premier League talent, which he has shown after shaking off some of the rustiness from his West Ham exile.

Alan Hutton is likely to come in at left-back for the suspended Neil Taylor with Ahmed Elmohamady continuing on the right.

The game for Villa, though, will likely be won or lost in the middle of the park. Conor Hourihane has been a vital cog in Villa’s season so far, chipping in a healthy quota of goals couple with all-action displays of energy covering almost every blade of grass.

His passing gets Villa going and how he fares against £15million man Ruben Neves will be an intriguing clash.

The game is probably a week too soon for Mile Jedinak, who could be on the bench for Villa, so that leaves Glenn Whelan in a crucial anchor role to break up Wolves’ attacks.

The former Stoke man will have to be at his very best against Wolves’ runners. It has been a mixed season at best for the Irishman with Villa fans often frustrated by Whelan.

If Villa are to take a point from Molineux, or even all three, Villa’s central pairing must stamp their authority on the middle third of the pitch.