Flags and signs were up outside the stadium hours before tonight's match - but some fans have already decided to stay at home
A Palestine flag hangs outside Villa Park this morning.
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Anti-Israel protesters made their presence felt around Villa Park hours before tonight's controversial match with Palestinian flags flying and signs displayed yards from the ground.
The scene was quiet when a BirminghamLive reporter arrived in the area before 8am today, Thursday, November 6. But there was plenty of evidence that campaigners had been around with signs also put up on lampposts bearing messages including: "No war games allowed".
Police are set to throw a ring of steel around Villa's Europa League fixture against Maccabi Tel Aviv with a reported 700 officers on duty and up to five protests planned on both sides of the Palestine-Israel divide.
The huge security operation has been mounted even though no Maccabi fans are due to be inside the ground after the club refused a ticket allocation when a controversial safety assessment said they would not be allowed in.
Some schools in the area are closing early today in a bid to ensure children and staff are clear of any potential flashpoints well before the 8pm kick-off time. And matchgoing Villa fans have been told to expect extra ticket checks as they approach the ground as part of the security operation.
But, even with the unprecedented policing plan, BirminghamLive has been told by some supporters, including long-time season ticket holders, that tonight's match is simply not worth the trouble and they will stay away.
But some normal matchday rituals will continue with supporters expected to drink pre-game at the Witton Arms pub, a stone's throw from the ground.
A Witton Arms spokesperson said: “I think both Aston Villa and West Midlands Police have everything in hand.
A sign put up near Villa Park.
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“We’ve full faith in the police to manage the day properly — if there are any peaceful protests, they’ll handle them fairly and keep everyone safe.
“At the end of the day, it’s a game of football. Fans are coming from all over to support their teams, and we just want everyone to have a good, safe day around Villa Park.
“We pride ourselves on providing a welcoming, family-friendly environment and have zero tolerance for any kind of anti-social behaviour.
“For today, we’ve increased our security presence for the day to ensure everyone feels more comfortable and safe — whether they’re joining us before or after the match, or staying to watch the game with us at the pub.”