The ultimate test? Crystal Palace v Aston Villa preview and team news

Villa's record against Palace in the Premier League and cup competitions has been awful since Oliver Glasner's arrival

I’m not scared. I’m fine. I’m calm and collected. You’re scared.

Aston Villa have a problem with Eagles. You might have heard about it. They can’t beat Crystal Palace in the Premier League, FA Cup or League Cup, and they couldn’t beat Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League either.

I dread to think how they’d get on against Lazio and Benfica. For now, though, it’s Palace again. Villa face Oliver Glasner’s Eagles at Selhurst Park on Wednesday evening as they look to extend their winning run away from home to, er, one.

Villa supporters’ usual Palace pessimism is reflected among the opposition as they prepare to take on Unai Emery’s high flyers.

Glasner has a badly depleted squad that’s missing Ismaïla Sarr, who’s at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, and no fewer than ten injury absentees.