Sell-out will be a thriller at the Villa!

VILLA Park is expected to be a sell-out for the first time in more than five years when Villa play host to Burton Albion on Boxing Day.

The last time Villa Park’s capacity of 42,785 was filled to the brim was to witness the 1-0 win over Liverpool on May 22, 2011.

And such was the demand for tickets to the match with the Brewers next Monday, the club have decided to re-open the Trinity Road Stand upper tier for the Christmas clash.

Villa’s Championship attendances this season have only been bettered by Newcastle. The fans have attended Villa Park in their thousands, despite only witnessing one win prior to Steve Bruce’s October arrival.

Their ten home matches to date have brought an average of 31,597 fans per game – over 2,000 more than the next club on the list, Derby County.

But it hasn’t just been at home where the claret and blue faithful have been vocal. They have sold out nearly every away allocation to date.

Indeed, 5,657 crammed into Deepdale for Roberto Di Matteo’s final game in charge of the club, a 2-0 defeat to Preston. And, speaking after Sunday’s win at Loftus Road, Bruce (pictured) said: “I’d like to thank all the supporters who have travelled down. We were talking earlier that there’s going to be a full house on Boxing Day. That tells you everything you need to know about our club, 42,500 against Burton – no disrespect – is quite a remarkable turnout.”

The team’s impressive home form under Bruce is certainly a factor behind the expected bumper crowd. Villa have won four of the five matches under him on home soil.

And with two home matches, Burton and Leeds United, before the end of the year, Bruce will be keen to send the supporters into 2017 with smiles on their faces.