Aston Villa v Stoke City: Local derby middle table clash

The two sides battle it out in the reverse fixture earlier this season Credit: Lynne Cameron/PA Wire

Stoke City travel to Aston Villa this afternoon for a middle of the table clash in the Premier League.

Aston Villa sit in 10th place - bottom of the top half of the league. Meanwhile, Stoke are 11th - top of the bottom half of the league.

Both sides are equal on points - 34 each. Goal difference is the factor separating the two teams.

Aston Villa will be confident. They have won their last two Premier League matches. Last weekend they beat the current league leaders, Chelsea, 1-0.

Stoke will hope to continue their recent run of good form. They have not lost in the league since February 22, and that was away to Manchester City.

Mark Hughes' side beat Aston Villa earlier in the season Credit: Lynne Cameron/PA Archive/Press Association Images

The last time Paul Lambert and Mark Hughes met was just before Christmas. The Potters won that fixture 2-1, so Villa will be looking to fight back at home this afternoon.

You can follow live updates from Villa Park from 16:00 via the ITV Sport website.