Aston Villa 0-0 Crystal Palace LIVE updates from Villa Park
Hello and welcome to today's coverage as Aston Villa look to leapfrog Crystal Palace in their quest to cement a top-half finish for the first time since 2011. Villa have planned something special prior to kick-off to mark the club's 40th anniversary of that special, special night in Rotterdam on May 25, 1982 against Bayern Munich.
"We are calling upon all fans to start waving your flags at approximately 1.52pm, when Aston Villa staff lift their flags into position pitchside, and continue waving them through until kick-off," a spokesman said. "Members of Villa's history-making 82 squad will be pitchside for the pre-match celebrations as well as returning at half-time for a lap of appreciation."
To the match itself and head coach Steven Gerrard will make a decision on Ollie Watkins prior to kick-off with the striker returning to training yesterday (Saturday) after struggling with an ankle injury off the back of Villa's defeat to Liverpool in midweek. Jacob Ramsey is back, though, while Leon Bailey and Kortney Hause remain sidelined.
As for Palace, late fitness tests will be given to goalkeeper Vicente Guaita and centre-back Marc Guehi, while midfielder James McArthur (calf) isn't expected to make it. Nathan Ferguson (thigh) is ruled out.
Stay with us for all of the pre-game build-up, team news, match updates, player ratings and Gerrard's post-match reaction. Ashley Preece will be providing updates throughout via the press box at Villa Park. Updates below .
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