ASTON VILLA manager Brian Little is expecting another hot reception when he returns to his former club Leicester for tonight's key Premiership battle. Little came under fire from City supporters when he resigned from the Filbert Street hot-seat in November 1994 before walking into Villa Park as Ron Atkinson's successor a few days later.
He was greeted with placards proclaiming him as a "Judas" and a "Liar" on the only other previous occasion he has taken Villa to Leicester.
With three of the top four sides in the Premiership on European duty this week, Villa are looking to cement their own claims for a UEFA Cup spot next season after Sunday's crucial victory over Liverpool.
Villa will check on the fitness of Steve Staunton who returned against Liverpool after a spell out with an ankle injury for the first 45 minutes before being replaced as had been pre-arranged by debutant David Hughes.
Elsewhere there are crucial relegation battles facing Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Middlesbrough, three of the four sides currently languishing at the bottom of the table.
Forest's new general manager Dave Bassett will make his home "debut" against Sheffield Wednesday, whose impressive run has given them hope of securing a European spot of their own.
Middlesbrough might be chasing glory on two cup fronts but they will be desperate for a Premiership victory to revive their hopes of beating the drop when they take on Derby County at the Riverside Stadium.
Derby manager Jim Smith must decide whether to recall Paul McGrath, who has been rested for the last two matches.
Southampton, heartened by their shock 1-0 win at Newcastle at the weekend will entertain an injury-hit Everton side determined to try and halt their own slide down the table towards the relegation zone.
Blackburn are looking to end their London hoodoo under caretaker Tony Parkes when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Parkes has revived Blackburn fortunes in his four months at the helm but their only three Premiership defeats in that period have been away to West Ham, Wimbledon and Tottenham.
