Norwich vs Aston Villa: Off to Canaries, with an eye on the Bluebirds

A Wolves win in Cardiff, or even a draw, would see the door to the automatic promotion race – at the moment virtually shut – creak open just a little for both Fulham and Steve Bruce’s team, who host the second-placed Bluebirds next Tuesday.

A Cardiff win, by contrast, would see Neil Warnock’s men tighten their grip on a top two finish and leave the chasing pack’s hopes of a late collapse appear ever more futile.

For all the talk of needing to focus on their own games, there is no point ignoring the fact a favourable result in Wales would provide Villa with plenty more incentive when they take to the pitch at Norwich tomorrow lunchtime.

Whatever the results elsewhere, they already know a win at Carrow Road would virtually secure a play-off place.

Yet for now, their aspirations remain fixed on the higher goal, no matter how unlikely it might currently appear. Since suffering back-to-back defeats to QPR and Bolton last month, Villa’s only chance depends on exerting some pressure on Cardiff in the hope their rivals might crack.

Should things go their way in the next 48 hours, they will have the chance to do just that at Villa Park early next week and though Fulham are better placed in third, the deficit to the Cottagers is only two points.

“We just need to win, pick up points and hopefully we will get close,” said Birkir Bjarnason after Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Reading, a result Bruce will hope has got his team firmly back on track. “It’s been frustrating,” added Bjarnason.

“When we needed to pick up points, we weren’t able to do so. Hopefully we can kick on now.”

All of the above scenarios depend, of course, on Villa getting a win at Carrow Road, a task which will prove far from straightforward.

On the face of it, Norwich might appear ideal opponents, sitting firmly in mid-table and having won only one of their last 10 games. But just three of those have been defeats, while Millwall and Sheffield United are the only teams to have beaten the Canaries on their own turf since the turn of the year.

Daniel Farke’s side are also looking to rebound after a chastening 4-1 Easter Monday defeat at QPR, after which captain Ivo Pinto warned his team-mates they need to “show we deserve to wear the shirt”.

After being stunned themselves by the R’s last month, meanwhile, Villa need no reminding of how dangerous opponents who seemingly have little to play for can be.

Bruce’s biggest dilemma is how many changes are required to a team which fizzed with energy against the Royals. The comprehensive nature of the win saw Albert Adomah, Robert Snodgrass and Jack Grealish withdrawn early and all three are guaranteed to be involved.

Bjarnason, the man of the moment, should also keep his place. Tuesday’s tilt with the physical Bluebirds might be the time to recall Mile Jedinak.

By then, Villa must hope to still be in the mix.