Premier League preview: West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa

Aston Villa’s relegation fears appear to be deepening by the week ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.

Manager Alex McLeish was subjected to a barrage of abuse before and after Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Bolton, a result that leaves Villa with only one win in their past 13 games.

Bolton’s Martin Petrov responded to Stephen Warnock’s opener on the hour mark within three minutes before David Ngog sealed the comeback almost immediately to wrench Villa within three points of the drop.

The fans immediately vented their fury at the ex-Birmingham boss who took their rivals down at the end of the 2011 season before crossing the city.

And, with a tough game at the Hawthorns to come as well as a home game with Tottenham and away trip to Norwich on the final day, Villa are now facing the most unlikely of relegations.

Two teams out of Villa (36 points), QPR (34), Wigan (34), Blackburn (33) and Bolton (33) are likely to go down but the latter four have better form and Bolton have a further game in hand.

Roy Hodgson’s West Brom pose the next real threat to Villa’s safety and are in hot form.

Wins over Blackburn, QPR, and Liverpool on Sunday, highlight a fine run of three wins in four games, with a 4-0 loss at Manchester City the only blotch in their copybook.

Marc Antoine-Fortune (hamstring) failed a late fitness test for Liverpool but should be fit in time to face Villa while Steven Reid, James Morrison and Zoltan Gera are all still unavailable.

Striker Darren Bent (ankle) is the key absentee for Villa and they could dearly do with his goals for the run in.