Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the West Midlands derby in the Championship between Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers. With Cardiff City and Fulham both winning this afternoon, the pressure has increased on both Steve Bruce and Nuno Espirito Santo's side. Let's see who they have selected in their respective starting lineups...

ASTON VILLA XI: Johnstone; Elmohamady, Chester, Terry, Taylor; Jedinak, Hourihane; Adomah, Grealish, Snodgrass; Grabban

ASTON VILLA SUBSTITUTES: Lansbury, Hogan, Bree, Onomah, Bjarnason, Bunn, Davis

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS XI: Ruddy; Batth, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Neves, N'Diaye, Douglas; Cavaleiro, Jota, Bonatini

WOLVERHAMPTON SUBSTITUTES: Norris, Bennett, Miranda, Saiss, Gibbs-White, Costa, Afobe

Let's start with Villa as Bruce opts to make just the two changes to the side which began the 3-0 victory at Sunderland. Glenn Whelan and Scott Hogan have dropped out of the team, with Mile Jedinak and Jack Grealish being brought into the starting lineup.

It means that Lewis Grabban starts ahead of an attacking-midfield three. The Bournemouth loanee has scored in his last three games and has established himself as Villa's first-choice striker.

As for Wolves, Nuno is able to call upon the services of Ruben Neves, with the Portuguese midfielder having sat out the last two matches due to suspension. Romain Saiss drops down to the bench, despite getting on the scoresheet against Leeds United in midweek.

That's the only change made by the league leaders, with Leo Bonatini retaining his place in the team ahead of both Helder Costa and Benik Afobe. Bonatini has not netted since scoring the winning goal against Birmingham City on December 4.

Plenty of football has already taken place this afternoon, including at the second tier. If you are in need of catching up with all of the results, click here.

As far as the Championship table is concerned, Wolves and Villa are both under pressure to match what Cardiff and Fulham have already achieved this afternoon. Wolves now only lead the standings by three points, while Fulham have overtaken Villa in third place. The race for automatic promotion could go right down to the wire this season.

PREDICTION! Villa have won seven of their last nine, and Wolves looked back to their best against Leeds in midweek. It means that this is a difficult fixture to call, but we are going to back the home side, perhaps by a 2-1 scoreline.

HEAD TO HEAD! This evening's match represents the 125th competitive meeting between the two sides, with Villa claiming 53 victories in comparison to Wolves registering 39 wins.

It's time for the two clubs to make their way out to an atmosphere which wouldn't look out of place in the Premier League. Which team will move a step closer to promotion to the top flight this evening?

A reminder of the two teams...

ASTON VILLA XI: Johnstone; Elmohamady, Chester, Terry, Taylor; Jedinak, Hourihane, Adomah, Grealish, Snodgrass; Grabban

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS XI: Ruddy; Batth, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Neves, N'Diaye, Douglas; Cavaleiro, Jota, Bonatini

<KICKOFF! Wolves get us underway.

Wolves are straight out of the traps and get themselves into a threatening position. However, rather than get a shot away from 20 yards, Bonatini tries to be too clever and gets dispossessed.

There's already been a bit of pushing between Grealish and N'Diaye. Grealish instigated it, but N'Diaye shouldn't have reacted. One to keep an eye on.

Since that early flourish from Wolves, Villa have had the majority of possession. The home side are looking to get Grabban in behind Batth and Coady and on two occasions, it has nearly come off.

More good play from Villa sees Adomah win a corner kick on the left, with Villa initially benefitting from a lucky ricochet.

From the resulting set piece, Villa take the lead. Wolves fail to win the first header and then Batth makes a mess of the clearance. The ball is initially cleared off the line but Adomah is eventually able to bundle it into the net from close range.

There was an element of fortune to the goal but Villa are currently bossing the league leaders and deserve their opener. Wolves are struggling to get out of their own half.

CHANCE! Almost an equaliser for Wolves. Jota finds Doherty at the back post and the wing-back's volley - which was probably going wide of the far post - is cleared from underneath the crossbar by Terry.

Grealish gets on the ball in Villa's defensive third and immediately comes under pressure from three players. It leads to the winger being pushed back towards his own byline but he does just enough to win a goal kick for his team.

Wolves are using a high press on Villa and it is forcing the home side into some mistakes. However, Wolves have been making errors when they have time on the ball so both clubs have room for improvement.

The battle between Grealish and N'Diaye continues to hot up. N'Diaye makes minimal connection on the winger's foot, and the Villa midfielder hits the deck. The referee isn't interested.

Wolves are back on level terms as Jota scrambles the ball into the net after some delightful work from Doherty, who nut-megged Taylor on the touchline before sending in a cross which was deflected further towards goal by a defender.

SHOT! Soon after the equaliser, Hourihane tries to net an immediate second for Villa but his long-range effort goes over the crossbar.

Doherty has been excellent for Wolves down the right flank but Cavaleiro is not matching the standards of his teammate. The Portuguese has made numerous poor passes and is on the periphery of this game.

It's been a quiet few minutes but both teams continue to work extremely hard. Neves is trying to get Wolves going in the middle of the park.

Cavaleiro finally comes to life with an outstanding run from the right flank - leaving Hourihane trying to tackle fresh air behind him - but he makes the wrong choice on the edge of the area, choosing to pass to Jota rather than get a shot away.

As we move through the 30-minute mark, Wolves are starting to have the better of this game but Villa are always dangerous when they break forward. Both managers will be pleased with what they have witnessed so far.

One criticism of Wolves is their final ball. For the most part, it has been rushed and inaccurate. Given all the talent in their squad, only Doherty has produced an end product.

Almost another worldie of a ball from Doherty, who nearly picks out the run of Bonatini with an ambitious pass from a deep position. Johnstone came out to claim.

Villa have started to up the tempo again with Wolves being required to block a couple of shots on the edge of the area. Adomah and Snodgrass are having success in behind the Wolves wing-backs.

BOOKING! Batth goes into the book for a block on Grealish. If anything, the Villa midfielder ran into the centre-back.

CHANCE! Villa should be back in front. From the free kick, Terry won the header at the back post and all Chester needs to do is convert from three yards. However, he miscues his overhead kick and Wolves clear.

BOOKING! Jota becomes the second Wolves player to be cautioned after jumping into a high challenge with Taylor. The forward can have no complaints.

Just the four minutes to go until the break. We are at a stage where both teams will be eager to avoid conceding a second. Going in level at 1-1 would be fair.

CHANCE! This is superb from Grabban, who collects a ball inside the penalty area before getting himself into a shooting position. However, the angle is too tight and the ball is sent into the side-netting.

BOOKING! A late challenge from Adomah prevents Doherty from advancing into the penalty area. Easy decision for the referee.

What a header from Elmohamady, who prevents a certain goal at the back post where Batth is lurking. How important could that be?!

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at Villa and we go into the break on level terms. As it stands, that's a fair scoreline but both clubs are showing that they are more than capable of finding a winner during the second half. Much to ponder for Bruce and Nuno.

The opening goal of the match came in the eighth minute, with Adomah bundling the ball into the net after Wolves had failed to deal with a corner. Batth's miscued clearance went straight into the path of two Villa players behind him and it was Adomah who reacted fastest to force the ball in.

Wolves' equaliser was also scrappy, with Jota bundling the ball home from inside the six-yard box, but it came after some outstanding work from Doherty, who played the ball between Taylor's legs before delivering a cross which Villa couldn't deal with.

I'd imagine that both bosses will hold fire when it comes to making changes, but there are numerous options on either bench. Don't be surprised to see both teams push for a winner in this game.

KICKOFF! Villa get us back underway.

Villa have started brightly with Adomah getting a shot away on the edge of the area. However, a deflection sent the ball into the air and made it easy for Ruddy.

Boly tries to be too clever on the touchline and Grabban is able to get on the ball. Fortunately for Boly, one of his teammates gets a block in.

For the first time in the second half, Wolves are able to make headway into the Villa half but like on the majority of occasions before the break, the final choice is poor. Cavaleiro was the guilty party here.

A few players are starting to slip on the Villa Park surface. There was a lot of rain yesterday but not so much today. Nevertheless, it's starting to cut up.

This game is so finely balanced. Both teams are suggesting that they are ready to have a sustained spell of pressure but sloppy passes are being made at the wrong times.

BOOKING! N'Diaye takes a booking to halt the run of Grealish. It's one of the most cynical pullbacks you will ever see.

Villa are back in front and Wolves concede again from a set piece! Snodgrass's cross is sensational and it leaves Chester with the relatively simple task of converting from six yards out.

That goal has naturally lifted Villa Park. The home side have got the measure of Wolves from set pieces. Wolves need some kind of response. It shouldn't be long before we see Afobe.

Bonatini probably senses that and finds himself with an opportunity on the edge of the box. However, again, he tries to do more work than was necessary and he's dispossessed.

Is that the goal that takes Villa back into the race for automatic promotion? Adomah gets the better of Batth down the left and his cross to the near post is met by Grabban, who flicks the ball inside the post after getting ahead of Bony. Long way back for Wolves from here.

The alterations have surely got to come for Wolves. They have been outworked and outhustled in this second half.

Should Wolves have had a penalty here? Possibly. Adomah is clumsy more than anything but he forces Doherty to the ground. Wolves can count themselves unfortunate.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Wolves make a double change, with Saiss and Afobe replacing Batth and Cavaleiro.

Wolves have had just two shots on goal during this match. It highlights how poor they have been in the final third. However, they now have a free kick in a threatening position. Douglas has a chance from 25 yards.

Douglas's shot beats the wall but is headed behind for a corner by Chester. A number of Wolves players were lurking behind.

BOOKING! Coady goes into the book for Wolves after lunging into a challenge on Snodgrass. He gets the ball, but catches the Villa winger on the follow-through.

SUBSTITUTION! Villa's first alteration sees Bjarnason come on in place of Adomah.

SUBSTITUTION! Wolves's third switch involves the withdrawal of Jota, who is replaced by Costa.

It's going to take something really special for Wolves to get back into this match. They just aren't troubling this Villa backline.

BOOKING! Villa's Hourihane is cautioned for a trip on Costa.

Wolves are denied another penalty. Neves's free kick is blocked by the hand of Snodgrass but the referee waves away the appeals.

SUBSTITUTION! A second change for Villa sees Lansbury come on in place of Hourihane.

BOOKING! Yet another booking, with Grealish being adjudged to have gone in dangerously on Neves.

It's definitely game over now. Bjarnason is given the space to move forward towards the penalty area and then the midfielder takes his chance to poke the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Both teams are just going through the motions now. There are fixtures to come in midweek and attention is starting to turn to them.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

CHANCE! Better from Wolves as a floated pass over the top of the Villa defence finds Costa, but the winger's header is too close to Johnstone.

The full-time whistle goes at Villa Park and the home side have ran our resounding 4-1 winners in the West Midlands derby. The teams were deservedly level at the break but Villa found an extra gear in the second half. Wolves remain just three points clear at the top of the table.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.