Gerard Houllier takes charge of his first league game with Aston Villa in what promises to be a fiery West Midlands derby with Wolves. Mick McCarthy's side haven't beaten their fierce rivals since March 1980 and can end a 16 match winless run against the Villans in the clash at Molineux. Tom Bellwood brings you all the action as it happens.
PREMIER LEAGUE Wolves 0 Aston Villa 06min: First chance of the afternoon and it falls to the hosts. Kevin Doyle rolled a delightful ball into Edwards who looked certain to score. But he slapped his shot wide of Friedel's upright from juts 10 yards out.
4min: A cacophony of noise spills down from the stands as this game observes the traditions of local derbies perfectly: Lots of challenges, misplaced passes and the like.
1min: Villa get the game under way. Vistors in their famous claret and blue, the hosts in their equally recognisable gold.
FIRST HALF... 2pm: Right, players are on their way out and the commentator does his best to douse the flames of this West Midlands derby by pointing out that these two sides don't see this as their most important local rivalry. Way to sell a game, mate.
1.55: Nicky Butt in the Sky studio... with an unfeasibly shiny (bald) head. Incredible. The player's should be out in a moment.
1.47: In today's earlier kick off - Manchester United have failed to capitalise on defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea after being held to a 2-2 draw by Bolton this afternoon.
Right, the team news is in (finally) ... and there are no surprises.
Wolves v Aston Villa - teams Wolves: Hahnemann, Foley, Craddock, Berra, Ward, Edwards, Henry, David Jones, Jarvis, Fletcher, Doyle. Subs:Hennessey, Elokobi, Stearman, Ebanks-Blake, Bent, Milijas, Guedioura.
Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Cuellar, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Downing, Ashley Young, Heskey.Subs: Guzan, Sidwell, Ireland, Agbonlahor, Davies, Bannan, Lichaj.
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
1.45pm: Hello there and welcome along to Sportsmail's coverage of the Barclays Premier League clash between Wolves and Aston Villa.
Gerard Houllier makes his return to the Premier League, six years after his last games in charge of Liverpool - a 1-1 draw with Newcastle in May 2004.
I'm expecting this West Midlands derby to spark into life. Bragging rights up for grabs between these two sides with the worst disciplinary record in the top flight.
Still Mick McCarthy will tell you his team have been unjustifiably labelled a 'dirty' side.
I'll bring you the team news as soon as I get it and all the action from Molineux as it happens.
And you can fire over your observations on today's action in this direction: tom.bellwood@dailymail.co.uk
Good to be back: Houllier is back in the Premier League for the first time in six years
Happy Houllier wants firing winger Young at heart of Aston Villa plansWolves express anger after fans brick Notts County coach and injure womanHoullier insists Aston Villa will benefit from Heskey quitting England dutyASTON VILLA FC
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail