So recently their fortress, Villa Park has become a little less daunting for visiting sides over the last few weeks.
Umai Emery’s side have stuttered of late, their home form deserting them just when they would have hoped to keep up pressure on Arsenal in the race to the title at the top of the Premier League.
Instead, following successive defeats to Everton and 10-man Brentford on their own turf, fans have begun looking over their shoulders as the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea closed the gap to them in third.
Add to that a draw at Bournemouth on Saturday, and Villa’s need to steady their wobble looks increasingly urgent.
On paper, at least, the arrival of a struggling side this evening looks the perfect fixture to calm claret and blue nerves.