Acid test: Aston Villa v Chelsea match preview and team news

It's important not to catastrophise over Villa's Premier League season but recent form has generated self-inflicted pressure

I’d be a terrible showjumper. I never know whether or not it’s a good idea to get straight back on the horse.

Aston Villa will presumably be helped or hindered by an immediate return to action after Friday’s embarrassing Premier League performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. I’ve no idea which to expect.

One thing I do expect is to see damned near the same starting line-up that warned Villa supporters of what laid ahead in the last game. Manager Unai Emery rightly has an enormous amount of goodwill in reserve but Friday’s game should serve as a reminder that he has some good options in reserve too.

There are no dead certs just waiting to come in and revolutionise Villa’s stagnant possession or sharpen up the attack, but when you lose to Wolves after picking an out-of-form striker and a struggling left-back, it’s probably time to find out what the alternatives can offer.

I don’t think Emery will change much at all.