David Prutton has predicted Aston Villa to suffer a defeat when they travel to Wolves on Saturday in the Championship.
Steve Bruce’s side make the short trip to Molineux for a league encounter and will be looking to continue their good run of form.
Villa have won their last four consecutive league games and have found success by playing a traditional 4-4-2 formation at times.
Their purple patch of form has seen them rise to seventh in the table and they will have eyes on promotion this season.
Meanwhile, high flying Wolves are second in the league standings and just a point behind leaders Cardiff.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are one of the favourites for promotion this season after their busy summer of spending and have not disappointed so far.
Sky Sports pundit Prutton has tipped an in-form Villa team to come unstuck and lose 2-0 when they make the trip to Midlands rivals Wolves.
“Now this is a big game,” Prutton wrote in his column for Sky Sports. “Two teams who will be aiming for the top two, regardless of what their respective managers say, meet in the evening game on Saturday and Molineux and it should be a fascinating clash.
“Villa have been on a bit of a resurgence lately, but their fixture list has been quite kind and a trip to Wolves will be a real test for them. I have to back the home side to lay down a marker.”
OPINION
Villa are beginning to come together after a poor start to the campaign and the international break came at a bad time for them. They must look to pick up where they left off by laying down a marker with a huge win against rivals Wolves. Bruce’s side are beginning to look defensively resolute and the impact of centre-back John Terry is improving the side. They will need to defend well if they are to keep out an explosive Wolves attack and can ask their own questions in the final third through the likes of Albert Adomah and Jonathan Kodjia.