The Championship resumes this weekend after a two-week break with all to play for in the second tier.

Aston Villa host Blackburn Rovers at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon having just moved into the top six on the back of a win last time out.

Dean Smith’s men have won their last four in a row to catapult themselves into sixth spot and on course to extend their season past the 46-game mark.

Tony Mowbray’s side, however, will not.

Rovers are mid-table and look to have no pressure on them in the final eight games.

And that lull in any meaning to matches in recent weeks has reflected on their results, losing seven of their last ten – winning just twice.

It is sure to be a competitive encounter between the two sides with so much still to play for as the final run-in approaches.

Prior to the fixture being played out, Sky Sports sourced a prediction from David Prutton on the outcome of the match.

The EFL presenter said: “Did the international break come at a bad time for Aston Villa?

“They were absolutely flying with four wins on the spin before the gap, and they hope it will not halt their momentum.

“Blackburn are pretty much destined for mid-table, which is not too bad when you consider they are a newly-promoted side. This is a home win for me, 3-0.”

The verdict

Two teams with totally different form at present.

I can’t see past an Aston Villa win to aid their play-off chances even more and extend their stay in the top-six.

A fifth defeat in seven beckons for Rovers who have slipped down the table considerably.

This has a win for the resurgent Villa all over it – and I would go along with the 3-0 scoreline Prutton has predicted.