Having experienced very different fortunes in midweek, Aston Villa and the Premier League's rock-bottom side Southampton will clash at Villa Park on Saturday.

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Four days after Aston Villa slipped into the bottom half of the Premier League table, as high-flying Chelsea ruthlessly extended their wait for a win, the Birmingham club brought a halt to their dismal run of results.

Wednesday's 3-1 defeat of Brentford eased the pressure on a team that had been sinking down the standings both in Europe and on the domestic front.

Having endured his own personal dip in form, new England international Morgan Rogers came good by firing the Villans in front midway through the first half, before Ollie Watkins converted a penalty against his old club and Matty Cash effectively made the points safe.

As a result, Unai Emery's men moved up to seventh place and prolonged their unbeaten run to six Premier League home matches, ahead of another top-flight fixture at Villa Park.

Prior to Southampton's arrival in the West Midlands, Villa have gone undefeated in all 11 of their league games against promoted opposition since Emery took charge, winning five from six at home under their Basque boss.

They have also come out on top in each of the clubs' last three encounters - without conceding a single goal - and Saints' recent form suggests that trend could continue.

Southampton are adrift at the foot of the table with more than a third of their comeback campaign already gone, having picked up just one point since the last international break.

A 1-0 home win over Everton is still Saints' sole Premier League success of the season, while their dismal defensive record is only better than fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers.

They have shipped 30 goals at a rate exceeding two per game this term, following a 5-1 crushing by Chelsea in midweek.

Furthermore, Russell Martin's men have scored the fewest goals of any side in England's top flight; all of which leaves them seven points behind 17th-placed Crystal Palace in the fight for survival.

With tough games against top-six contenders Villa and Tottenham Hotspur to come before an EFL Cup quarter-final against Liverpool later this month, Martin could be clinging onto his job in the run-up to Christmas.

Before hitting the road this weekend, Southampton are winless in 14 Premier League away games, losing 11 times since February 2023. Indeed, no team has collected fewer points away from home this season.

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins

Southampton possible starting lineup:

Lumley; Sugawara, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Manning; Dibling, Aribo, Downes, Fernandes; Archer