Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of a Midlands derby between Aston Villa and visiting West Brom, kicking off at 4pm.

FACT: 10 points after five games is West Brom’s best ever start to a Premier League season. But they have won just one of their last eight Premier League away games (W1 D3 L4).

FACTS: After winning five and losing none of the first nine Premier League meetings with West Brom, Villa have lost two and won none of the last three; Aston Villa have won just one of their last 15 Premier League games (W1 D6 L8).

FACT: Six of the last eight Premier League meetings between Villa and West Brom have ended with a 2-1 score line, while the other two finished 0-0.

I'm a shade surprised that Lukaku has been benched today - would love to see him up against Vlaar in a derby environment, but it seems Clarke has gone for Long's experience and a packed midfield. What do you make of these selections? Let me know on Twitter @Reda_Eurosport.

Steve Clarke (West Brom): "We've had a good start and Villa have had an okay start. You can't say they've had a bad start. They've had enough decent results to show what Paul is trying to do there is starting to work. Their trend is upwards. I've watched a few of their videos leading into this match and you can see the team is starting to play the way Paul would like them to play."

Paul Lambert (Aston Villa) on the form of Gabriel Agbonlahor: "Every time I pick a side it is hard but Gabby's performance the other night was exceptional. His two goals were fantastic and, if you get Gabby firing on all cylinders, then he is a handful. Consistency comes from within himself. He is at an age now where he has got to get consistency in his game as well."

West Brom, meanwhile, hand a debut to Macedonia defender Goran Popov, a derby for him no less. He plays left-back with Liam Ridgewell (thigh) not deemed fit enough to start. James Morrison returns from a hamstring strain, but Peter Odemwingie is still banned.

So Brad Guzan continues in goal for Villa despite conceding four against Southampton last time out. Shay Given kept goal during the 4-2 Cup win at City, but he has to sit on the bench, as do Darren Bent and Andreas Weimann, with the in-form Christian Benteke and Gabby Agbonlahor leading the line for the first time in the league this season after his exploits at Eastlands. Brett Holman returns from a knee injury, but Stephen Ireland is still out with a wrist injury.

TEAMS - Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Bennett, El Ahmadi, Delph, Albrighton, Holman, Agbonlahor, Benteke; Subs: Given, Lichaj, Westwood, Bannan, N'Zogbia, Weimann, Bent /// West Brom: Foster, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Popov, Mulumbu, Yacob, Gera, Morrison, Brunt, Long; Subs: Daniels, Tamas, El Ghanassy, Dorrans, Fortune, Rosenberg, Lukaku

These are two sides with contrasting fortunes. Villa have been in the doldrums in recent seasons and lie 15th in the league this season, although they will have been boosted by a fine League Cup win at Manchester City in midweek. The Baggies, meanwhile, have had a great start to life under Steve Clarke and are sixth. A win today could put them a heady second. Boing!