Aston Villa and Derby County are two of the Championship's biggest clubs but have had almost identical seasons so far.

Both clubs brought in a new gaffer over the summer in the hope of challenging for promotion to the Premier League, but neither manager had much success, with Roberto Di Matteo losing his job as Villa boss before Nigel Pearson left Derby following a suspension.

And when the two sides came up against each other back in August, before their managers' departures, the tie finished 0-0.

Since the exit of their managers, both sides have brought in Championship experience to try and turn their seasons around: Steve Bruce arrived at Villa Park whilst old face Steve McClaren returned to the iPro.

Bruce and McClaren have had 5 matches in charge of their respective clubs; former Hull boss Steve Bruce has remained unbeaten so far as Villa boss, as they recorded their first away win in 14 months.

Meanwhile McClaren has won 3 of his 5 games as Rams boss, losing just 1.

FootballLeagueWorld writer Rob Booth identifies the best combined XI made up of Aston Villa and Derby players...

GK - Scott Carson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scott Carson has looked a different player since Steve McClaren's return, and is arguably in the best form of his Derby career.

Despite an incredibly bad start in which Carson made countless errors, the former England international is playing so much better under Steve Mac, making important saves and looking an all-round improved player as the Rams start to turn their form around.

RB - Cyrus Christie

Cyrus Christie is another player who has started to improve since the return of Steve McClaren.

He put in a great performance as Derby beat Sheffield Wednesday two weeks ago, contributing a goal too.

Christie is inconsistent but on his day he's a class wide player who can pose a threat to any Championship defence.

Unfortunately for Rams fans, Christie was forced off injured against Wolves and now faces 3 months out with an ankle injury.

The injury couldn't have come at a worse time as it looked as if McClaren was getting the best out of the Irish international.

CB - James Chester

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Chester has been one of Villa's best players since his arrival from fellow West Midlands side West Brom.

Chester has made 15 league appearances for the Villains this season, playing in all 5 of Bruce's matches in charge and playing a key role in turning the club's fortunes around.

The Welsh international, who played under Steve Bruce at Hull has arguably been Aston Villa's best defender this season, and his continued good form will be welcomed by the Villa fans.

CB - Richard Keogh

Richard Keogh has been a solid defender yet again for the Rams this season.

The skipper was also captain of Derby during McClaren's first spell as manager at the iPro Stadium, leading the East Midlands club to the play-off final, in a season which included a 5-0 hammering over rivals Nottingham Forest as well as an emphatic 6-2 aggregate win over Brighton in the play-off semi-finals.

Keogh, who is also an Irish international, has played in every league game so far for Derby in 2016/17, and has formed a great partnership with fellow centre half Alex Pearce.

LB - Jordan Amavi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jordan Amavi joined Aston Villa last season, but injury ruled him out of most of Villa's horrific Premier League campaign last season.

The Frenchman returned from that injury this summer and his first league game was actually away to Derby.

Amavi is a talented full back who has been re-introduced to the starting line-up since Bruce's appointment, starting 3 of Bruce's 5 games as well as making a sub appearance.

CDM -Bradley Johnson

Bradley Johnson's game has improved massively over the last few games, and he is finally starting to live up to his £6m price tag.

The former Norwich midfielder was poor in his debut season with the Rams, looking sloppy in midfield as he constantly gave the ball away.

In George Thorne's absence, Johnson has been deployed as a holding midfielder, and has looked a whole lot better. Even when he switched back to the original centre midfield role against Sheffield Wednesday, he put in a great shift in the middle.

CM - Gary Gardner

Gary Gardner is a promising youngster who appears to have a great amount of potential.

After 2 successful loan spells with Nottingham Forest, the 24-year-old has managed to get into the Aston Villa first team this season, making 10 league appearances for the West Midlands club.

Not only is Gardner a good midfielder, but he also has an eye for goal.

In his time with Forest he scored several impressive long range goals and this season with Villa, he scored in the Second City derby away to Birmingham as the Villains drew 1-1 with their rivals.

CM - Will Hughes

Will Hughes is a top class centre midfielder with a terrific creative ability.

The boyhood Rams fan is one of the best centre midfielders in the Championship and was badly missed when he was sidelined for the majority of last season.

The England under-21 international is a great passer of the ball, and his beautifully timed ball over the Wolves defence to tee up Darren Bent's volley was evidence of this.

With his talent and experience, as well as still only being 21-years-old, Hughes definitely has a bright future ahead of him.

RW - Albert Adomah

Albert Adomah, who was linked with Derby over the summer, joined Villa from Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee near the end of the transfer window.

The Ghanaian brings power and pace to Villa side, and knows what it takes to win promotion from the Championship since he did it last season with Middlesbrough.

Adomah has made 9 Championship appearances since arriving at Villa Park, 7 0f those being starts.

Last season Adomah was one of the best wingers in the league, and as Villa begin to improve, he'll be a great player that will contribute to winning games.

LW - Tom Ince

Based on recent form, Tom Ince has to go in this XI.

After a poor start to the season, Ince's performances have turned around since Steve McClaren's return to Derby.

The son of Premier League winner Paul Ince has looked so much more lively and motivated in games, which he lacked earlier on in the season.

It was under McClaren that Ince played so well last time, and it looks as if Ince could return to that incredible form he showed in the final months of the 2014/15 when he was a Derby loanee.

ST - Jonathan Kodjia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Kodjia joined Aston Villa from Bristol City in the summer, for around £11m.

The 27-year-old has scored 6 goals in 11 games for the Villains and 5 of those have come since Steve Bruce's appointment.

The former Bristol City man looks to have found his shooting boots and also looks to have solved Villa's goalscoring worries.

Kodjia is a great striker at this level, and at a club like Aston Villa playing under a manager with the experience of Steve Bruce, his game will only get even better.

 

Villa and Derby fans... Do you agree with this XI? Who would you pick? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!