Aston Villa vs Birmingham City: TV channel, live stream, squad news & preview

Dean Smith and Garry Monk to experience the Second City derby for the first time at Villa Park on Sunday

Aston Villa and Birmingham City will take part in the first Second City derby of the season on Sunday afternoon.

The two sides are currently both level on points after 17 league matches, having clocked up 24 points so far, with Villa marginally ahead on goal difference.

This will be the first time that either of the two managers have experienced the derby, with Dean Smith appointed Villa manager in October and Garry Monk arriving at Birmingham City in March, after both matches were played last season

A win for either side will see them move to within four points of the play-off positions.

In the United States (US), the game will not be televised, but will be available to stream on ESPN+.

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In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on TV on Sky Sports Football and can be streamed online via Sky GO.

Captain James Chester has been passed fit to start for Villa, as has left-back Neil Taylor.

However, midfielder John McGinn misses out after injuring his calf on international duty with Scotland.

Confirmed Aston Villa starting XI: Nyland; Hutton, Chester, Tuanzebe, Taylor; Whelan, Hourihane, Grealish; Adomah, Kodjia, Abraham

Midfielder James Maghoma is back in the matchday squad for Garry Monk’s side having not been involved since injurying his ankle against Reading four weeks ago.

Jota misses out having failed to recover from a knock sustained in Birmingham’s draw with Hull City before the international break. Davis and Vassell remain out.

Confirmed Birmingham City starting XI: Camp; Colin, Morrison, Dean, Harding; Mahoney, Gardner, Kieftenbeld, Pederson; Jutkiewicz, Adams

Aston Villa are the favourites to secure three points in the first Second City derby of the season, with bet365 offering odds of 9/10 for Dean Smith’s side. Birmingham can be backed at a price of 15/4, while a draw is 5/2.

Click here to see more offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.

Dean Smith endured a mixed start to his time as Aston Villa boss, with his side losing two of his opening three matches in charge.

But Villa won their last two matches before the international break, scoring five goals and conceding zero in the process. Their 3-0 victory away to high-flying Derby County was particularly impressive.

Home advantage could be a vital factor for them on Sunday and Smith, who is a Villa fan himself, will be desperate to mark his first Second City derby with a victory.

Birmingham have endured a more difficult time of late, with their last win coming against Sheffield Wednesday at the end of October.

Garry Monk’s side have conceded six goals in their last two matches and will know that they must put on an improved defensive showing at Villa Park if they’re to get anything out of Sunday’s match.

The former Swansea City boss has revealed that both he and Smith still stay in contact having previously played together at Sheffield Wednesday but says they will be “enemies” for 90 minutes on Sunday.

“I wouldn’t say we have kept close contact or we ring each other every day but of course I have had communication with Dean,” Monk said.

“Then when we see each other after games we have good chats and talk about things from before when we were team-mates and other things that are going on now we are managers.

“But now we are enemies for 90 minutes and I am sure we will have a good chat afterwards.”