Villa hope Boro homework will get top marks

VILLA’S analysts have provided boss Steve Bruce and his coaching team with a detailed dossier on play-off semi-final opponents Middlesbrough.

The support team at Bodymoor Heath spent the last fortnight swotting up on Tony Pulis’ side so the opposition lowdown was ready for the management team this week.

Villa’s senior stars were given Bank Holiday Monday off to rest and recuperate ahead of an intense week of play-off-focused training.

And by the time Saturday evening arrives for the semi-final first leg at The Riverside Stadium, they will be drilled and ready for action.

“The analysts have a vault of stuff ready for us,” said assistant boss Colin Calderwood.

“We’ve had Middlesbrough in our minds and it’s very easy to collect the information in terms of the history of the season against them and what we think we know.

“We will now revisit it and go through it quickly.”

Detailed information packages, including strengths and weaknesses, will also be designed for possible play-off finalists, Derby or Fulham.

And with all of Villa’s experience, they remain favourites to see off Boro over the two legs.

Former Villa favourite George Boateng has warned his old club they face a ‘long, long time’ in the Championship if they don’t win the play-offs.

Boateng, who left Villa for Middlesbrough in 2002, reckons the claret and blues hold all the cards – but insists Bruce’s boys have more to lose.

“Villa has a slight advantage over Middlesbrough,” he said. “Fulham has a slight advantage over Middlesbrough, so this is why I am saying the expectations shouldn’t be so high for Middlesbrough.

“But if you make the play-offs and you get to the final, the final is the toss of a coin, so anything can happen in the play-offs. But based on the season, and the players the teams have, Villa have to get up this season. I think that if Villa don’t get up this season, I think we might not see Villa in the Premier League for a long, long time.

“Financially, it will be a big problem for them but also trying to attract players to Villa again will be even harder.

“They have players there that if they don’t make it, they will also be looking to leave, like Jack Grealish, (Jonathan) Kodjia is still there. So they have players to win but they have to deliver because it’s either up or under for Villa this season.”