Villa to host crucial U21 clash

Villa Park will play host to England's massive Under 21 European Championship play-off clash with Wales on October 14.

Stuart Pearce's young lions will be hoping to defeat their Welsh counterparts over two legs and secure a passage into the finals in Sweden next summer. And the game at Villa will come four days after the first leg showdown in Cardiff.

Pearce will be looking for the Villa faithful to turn out in numbers to help cheer on his side to victory in the encounter.

"Wales are probably as strong as they have ever been at this level, with several players experienced in senior internationals," he told the Football Association's official website.

"Whenever the British teams meet there is always that special edge to the game, especially with the stakes being so high.

"It will be an exciting night at Villa Park and it's that sort of atmosphere that we want to create for the Under 21s.

"The team showed against Portugal at Wembley last month that they relish playing in front of a big support and I can only see it helping them as a group."