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• ​New York Red Bulls v Atlanta United: Schwarz seeking change in behaviour

  Sandro Schwarz says the New York Red Bulls must change their behaviour amid a disappointing return to MLS action, ahead of Saturday's clash with Atlanta United.

  The Red Bulls have not won since MLS returned following the Leagues Cup break, with Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire extending their winless streak to four games.

  They have now slipped to fifth in the Eastern Conference and though a playoff berth still looks overwhelmingly likely, the pressure is on as they battle for a home seeding.

  "Pressure is normal in professional sports, especially when you lose games like we did, or like the home game against Philly," Schwarz said.

  "But we can influence this with our behaviour on the field and off the field, and it starts today. 

  "We have to change our behaviour immediately now for the last five games and the pressure is normal. It's also normal to have pressure when you win, for the game after."

  Atlanta, meanwhile, are one point outside the playoff picture, having earned a creditable 2-2 draw with Inter Miami in midweek.

  "From a tactical point of view maybe it's not the type of soccer we want to play, but in terms of work rate and a commitment to try to win the game, it gets you far. You can't just turn it on or turn it off, it doesn't work that way," interim boss Rob Valentino said.

  On the playoff battle, he added: "I think we were one point out of it so I can't sit here and think about being disappointed.

  "We move forward, now we're going to have to pick up points on the road."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  New York Red Bulls – Dante Vanzeir

  Vanzeir recorded his 12th goal involvement of the season as the Red Bulls were beaten in Chicago last time out, teeing up Dennis Gjengaar's equaliser.

  His 10 assists in MLS play this term are more than twice that of the next-closest Red Bulls players, with Elias Manoel, Lewis Morgan and Dylan Nealis all having four apiece.

  Atlanta United – Aleksey Miranchuk 

  Miranchuk's late goal salvaged a draw for Atlanta versus Miami last time out, his first MLS goal in his fourth appearance in the competition. If the Five Stripes are to gatecrash the playoffs, they need him to produce in the coming weeks.

  MATCH PREDICTION – NEW YORK RED BULLS WIN

  The Red Bulls trounced Atlanta 4-0 at Red Bull Arena when the sides met in this exact fixture last season, and while Atlanta should be more competitive this time around, another home win looks likely.

  Saturday's hosts have only lost one of their 14 home matches in MLS play this year, winning seven and drawing six. 

  Atlanta, meanwhile, have lost half (7/14) of their road games, and have only won one of their last six matches in all competitions (three draws, two defeats).

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  New York Red Bulls – 51.8%

  Atlanta United – 23.7%

  Draw – 24.6%

• O'Neil looking to flip the script against Villa after tough start to season

  Gary O'Neil admitted that Wolves may be second favourite in every game, but he is hoping they can flip the script against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.

  Wolves have endured a difficult start to the season with one draw and three losses, including a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United last weekend after they failed to hold onto their lead.

  They sit 18th in the Premier League table and go into the weekend having also been knocked out of the EFL Cup after suffering a 3-2 defeat to Brighton on Wednesday.

  O'Neil did not shy away from their run of poor form and is hopeful they can start to get results that match their performances.

  "Of course, should haves and could haves aren't going to help us, but moving forward you can still see that we're giving ourselves good opportunities to win football matches against tough teams," O'Neil told BBC Radio WM.

  "Unfortunately, at this moment in time, we haven't managed to turn one [result] our way. The lads are still taking a lot of heart from [the Brighton game].

  "So far, my guess would be that we have been second-favourite in every game. I think we will be for the next few as well so, we're having to fight against the odds at the minute.

  "We are doing enough to get results, but we are falling a bit short."

  Meanwhile, Villa have lost just one of their four Premier League outings so far and came from 2-0 down to beat Everton 3-2 in their last such match.

  The Villans are returning to Premier League action on a high after opening their Champions League campaign with a dominant 3-0 victory over Young Boys.

  Youri Tielemans was delighted with their showing in Europe but already has his focus back on the top-flight.

  "For our first match, it was amazing," Tielemans said. "We can enjoy this and focus on the next game now.

  "It was a good performance from myself, from the team, so we can move forward."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Aston Villa – Jhon Duran

  Jhon Duran has scored the winning goal in all three of Villa's Premier League victories this season, with all three coming as a substitute.

  No player has scored four winning goals from the bench in a single campaign in Premier League history.

  Wolves – Andre

  Andre completed all of his 40 passes for Wolves against Newcastle United before being withdrawn (100%).

  He also won five of his nine duels and won possession four times in his first start for Wolves.

  MATCH PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA WIN

  Villa beat Wolves 2-0 in their last league meeting in March last season – only in their first two such encounters in 2003-04 have they won consecutive Premier League games against them.

  The Villans have won three of their four Premier League games this season, losing the other against Arsenal. Only in 1998-99, 2009-10 and 2020-21 have they won as many as four of their first five in a single campaign in the competition.

  However, between March and Christmas 2023, Villa conceded just eight goals in 16 Premier League home games (0.5 per game), and never more than once in a match in that time. Since then, they have conceded 26 goals in 12 games at Villa Park (2.2 per game), conceding at least twice in 10 of those (including each of the last four).

  Meanwhile, Wolves have only lost one of their last five away league games against Aston Villa (D2 L2), though it was in this exact fixture last season (0-2).

  Wolves have won just one of their last 14 Premier League games (D3 L10) and are winless in seven (D1 L6) since a 2-1 win over Luton in April. It is their longest run without a victory since a run of 12 between April and August 2022.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Aston Villa – 57.6%

  Draw – 21.4%

  Wolves – 21%

• Postecoglou warns 'no easy or quick fix' for Spurs after Coventry scare

  Ange Postecoglou acknowledged "there is no easy or quick fix" for Tottenham following their EFL Cup scare against Coventry City.

  Spurs scraped through to the fourth round by the skin of their teeth, having been second-best against their Championship opponents for large periods of the tie at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

  Ben Davies had cleared off the line from Haji Wright minutes before Coventry took a deserved 63rd-minute lead through Brandon Thomas-Asante.

  The Sky Blues looked set to book their place in the last-16 draw, but Djed Spence rounded off a neat move to equalise in the 88th minute then, deep into stoppage time, Brennan Johnson completed the turnaround to snatch victory from under Coventry's noses.

  Postecoglou has been the subject of criticism this week after stating he "always" wins silverware in his second season at a club.

  The Spurs boss knows his side still have a long way to go, but was pleased by the character demonstrated by his players in testing circumstances.

  "We had to just hang in there somehow, and we did," he told Sky Sports. "We weren't fluent or cohesive.

  "I have consistently said there is no easy or quick fix to where we want to get to and one result doesn't change that.

  "Tonight, we showed what we have been missing the first four games. A little bit of spirit to fight our way and find a way to win a game of football."