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Oh god. Oh god oh god oh god. Not sure I've ever been this tense before a Villa match before. The stakes are so incredibly high today that it's hard to come to terms with them. Win and we have a nice jumpstart into this weekend's rematch (with a trip to Wembley on the line). Lose and relegation looks even more possible. And all at the hands of our fierce local rivals, the Baggies.
This is a match that Villa have every reason in the world to win. But given the way this season has gone, it's also a match that I have no confidence in whatsoever. West Browmwich Albion, despite their higher position in the table than Aston Villa, are not a good club. They are playing at Villa Park. And yet they could very well take this from us.
Today begins a five day stretch that could absolutely devastate us. Or, it could save this season. Two wins and relegation fears diminish and Wembley is ours. Split the series and we're either hurt in the league or punched in the gut watching the Baggies celebrate their own trip to Wembley on Villa Park's pitch. Lose both and...
Well let's not think about that. Let's think about today, and let's all think about winning. Heavens knows nothing else has helped this club. Maybe a little bit of wishful thinking can do the trick.
If you're looking for more to read to keep you busy until kick off, we've got the injury report, Jack's weekly look at tactics and proposed lineups, and Alex's excellent preview. You'll find all of your watching info below, and we'll post lineups before the match. I'll be live-tweeting, of course. And be sure to join us in the comments during the action and stick around after for the recap!
Location: Villa Park, Birmingham, England
Kick-off time: 7:45 PM GMT, 2:45 PM Eastern, 11:45 AM Pacific
Available TV: NBCSN (US), BT Sport 1 (UK)
Available streaming: NBC Sports Live Extra, Mun2
Available radio: AVTV (subscription required), BBC WM 95.6 FM
For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.
Aston Villa starting XI
#AVFC (v @WBAFCOfficial): Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Clark, Lowton, Westwood, Delph (c), Cleverley, Agbonlahor, N’Zogbia, Benteke. #AVFCLIVE
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) March 3, 2015
Aston Villa subs
#AVFC subs (v @WBAFCOfficial): Given, Bacuna, Sinclair, Sanchez, Gil, Grealish, Weimann. #AVFCLIVE
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) March 3, 2015
West Bromwich Albion starting XI
Albion v @AVFCOfficial: Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Brunt, Morrison, Yacob, Fletcher, Gardner, Ideye, Berahino. #AVLWBA #COYB
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBAFCofficial) March 3, 2015
West Bromwich Albion subs
Albion subs v @AVFCOfficial: Myhill, Wisdom, Pocognoli, Olsson, Baird, Mulumbu, Sessegnon. #AVLWBA #COYB
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBAFCofficial) March 3, 2015