Relegated West Brom, fringe players, youngsters and match facts

Relegated West Brom are as good as relegated but they do have the slightest of chances and because of that, they will come out fighting. But it's relegated West Brom and Big Sam and we know exactly what is going to happen. But that doesn't mean we know how we are going to approach this game.

And we are safe and we have done better than last season so it could mean that we start to see some youngsters in the side. I mean, what have we got to lose?

But it's probably just me that thinks this a good idea and I'm sure there will be some that would prefer to see us beat relegated West Brom than give a run out to some of our youngsters. However, wouldn't it be nice to see that young Barry given a chance in the Premier League?

I'm highlighting Barry because of that goal and the money paid for him. But it would be nice. There are a few more that I'd like to see too and there are players that I don't want to see again. And I know that is harsh and if we had a single approach to a game, that these players would probably do better, but there are some players we've seen enough of to know. There are many we still need to see.

And these days, age is just a number. Barry is 17. Not old enough for a lot of things, but he could score against Liverpool once, why can't he play against relegated West Brom and maybe score against them?

And I didn't write anything about what happened earlier this week, because it appears to have ended as quickly as it started and it wasn't going anywhere. I suspect it will mean points deducted for the six that signed up though and that could mean we finish higher than we expect. That'll be nice.

Match facts from the BBC

Head-to-head

• Aston Villa could achieve their first league double over relegated West Brom since the 2008-09 season, when the Baggies were relegated to the Championship.
• Relegated West Brom have won just four of the 21 Premier League meetings (D9, L8).
• The Baggies have had a player sent off in each of their past three fixtures against Villa in all competitions.

Aston Villa

• Aston Villa could lose three consecutive Premier League games for the first time this season.
• They have only won one of their past five home league matches (D1, L3).
• Only Sheffield United and Southampton have lost more Premier League matches than Villa's nine so far in 2021.
• Dean Smith's side have kept 14 clean sheets in this season's Premier League but have gone five games without one.
• Villa have won five of their eight Sunday matches in the Premier League this season, losing the other three.
• Seven of Ollie Watkins' 12 Premier League goals this season have come in games played on Sundays.
• Anwar El Ghazi has scored four league goals against relegated West Brom but none of them have come at Villa Park.

Relegated West Bromwich Albion

• Relegated West Brom have conceded 62 league goals this season - only three teams across Europe's top five leagues have conceded more in 2020-21.
• The Baggies have won just two of their 16 Premier League away matches this season (D4, L10).
• Sam Allardyce's side have failed to score in four of their past five away league fixtures.
• Albion have drawn three and lost six of their nine Sunday games this season.
• Allardyce has won Premier League games against Aston Villa while in charge of Bolton, Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland.