Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Aston Villa and Swansea City.

When Aston Villa began the season with a win at Bournemouth, the signs were there that the West Midlands giants could go on to have a season away from the relegation zone, but unfortunately for Tim Sherwood, things haven't turned out that way. Seven defeats in eight games have left Sherwood fighting for his job at Villa Park and the feeling is that should Villa lost to Swansea this afternoon, the club could act and remove the former Tottenham Hotspur chief from the dugout.

Surprisingly, Garry Monk finds himself in a similar position to that of Sherwood. There has been suggestions in the week that Monk could be removed from his position at the Liberty Stadium after seeing his team fail to win in six matches and rumours swirling that Huw Jenkins may want to introduce an experienced coach to the backroom team at the club.

Before we go any further, let's take a look at the two teams, starting with Villa.

ASTON VILLA XI: Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Richardson; Bacuna, Gueye; Grealish, Agbonlahor, Ayew; Gestede

ASTON VILLA SUBSTITUTES: Bunn, Amavi, Westwood, Traore, Sanchez, Gil, Crespo

After his recovery from injury, Sherwood has handed an immediate recall to Gabriel Agbonlahor, who will take his place in attack alongside Rudy Gestede and Jordan Ayew. Leandro Bacuna also comes into the team, with Ashley Westwood dropping out.

SWANSEA CITY XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Ki Sung-Yueng, Shelvey; Sigurdsson, Ayew, Montero; Gomis

SWANSEA CITY SUBSTITUTES: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Bartley, Britton, Cork, Barrow, Eder

After their defeat to Stoke City on Monday night, Monk has proceeded to make three alterations to his team. As expected, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Ki Sung-Yueng have returned to the starting lineup, while Kyle Naughton comes in at right-back. Dropping out are Angel Rangel, Jack Cork and Modou Barrow.

In this fixture last season, a late goal from Bafetimbi Gomis gave Swansea all three points. Will we see a repeat of that this afternoon?

VIDEO: @BafGomis was the match-winner the last time we visited Villa Park back in March. #AVLSWA https://t.co/d879QTfqk7 — Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) October 24, 2015

If lightning did strike twice, it would come as huge relief, and perhaps surprise, to Garry Monk. Gomis set the Premier League alight with four goals in the club's first four games, but since then, the Frenchman has failed to find the back of the net. Summer signing Eder must be wondering what he has to do to get a start in the top flight, but Monk has given Gomis what might be his last chance before he makes the switch.

Let's turn our attention back to Sherwood, who is undoubtedly aware that he cannot afford another defeat this afternoon. His players contributed to their own downfall against Chelsea last weekend, and if it wasn't for a mistake from Brad Guzan and a slice of bad fortune, they may have had enough to secure a point. That said, a losing mentality is present in the squad and a result is much more important than the performance this afternoon.

While seven defeats in eight games looks bad, it doesn't tell the whole story. The 2-0 reverse at Stamford Bridge was Villa's heaviest defeat of the season, with the other six setbacks all coming by one goal. A defeat is still a defeat, but Villa haven't been a million miles away from getting more points on the board. That said, it is perhaps more worrying that they are not getting over the line when in a position to move up the table. The capitulation against Leicester City in September is a clear example of that.

Despite failing to catch a break for a couple of months, Sherwood is adamant that his side will bring an end to their losing streak this afternoon. You have to admire his confidence...

Not long ago, the Villa squad went out for their pre-match warm-up to a muted reception. It will be interesting to see how long the fans stay with their side this afternoon should they fail to produce a positive start.

BUILD-UP VIDEO: The lads are out for their warm-up. #AVFC #AVLSWA https://t.co/RI1F9V3mEu — Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) October 24, 2015

Let's get back to Swansea now, and debate why Garry Monk has been linked with a shock departure. Interestingly, the former defender is rumoured to be in the running for the Villa job should Sherwood leave, but there has also been a suggestion that chairman Huw Jenkins wants to add an experienced name to the backroom staff. Monk has allegedly insisted that he wants to keep everything the same, however, and it remains to be seen who will back down.

As far as the results on the pitch are concerned, while they have been below par, they cannot realistically be the reason why Monk has been backed into second favourite to be the next manager to depart a Premier League club. The Swans did some good business in the summer, most notably Andre Ayew, and although their form has dropped off, you would expect that their current form is only temporary. There is perhaps an over reliance on Gomis to repeat the goalscoring exploits of Wilfried Bony, but all of the responsibility cannot fall on the former Lyon frontman's shoulders.

Talking of Andre Ayew, it has almost gone unnoticed this week that he will come up against brother Jordan this afternoon. Andre has enjoyed the far greater start to life in the Premier League, but with his impact becoming less and less with each week, Jordan has the chance to gain the bragging rights today. The 24-year-old is yet to score for Villa since his big-money move from Lorient, but what a time it would be to start this afternoon.

PREDICTION! These two teams possess winless records in the league of eight and five games respectively, so we shouldn't expect too many goals today. With slightly more pressure on Villa, we are backing Swansea to nick this by the odd goal, maybe through Gomis for the second season running.

As always on a Saturday afternoon, this isn't the only game that you can follow with Sports Mole. Click here to see what else we have to offer you today.

More photos ahead of this crucial encounter. It's a big afternoon for Brad Guzan after his costly error last weekend.

WARM-UP PIX: Players get set for the Swans clash. #AVFC #Swans #AVLSWA pic.twitter.com/HIfmAqqCZy — Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) October 24, 2015

Here come the two teams, who walk out to a less-than-full Villa Park. Regardless of the attendance, the stakes are so high in this match!

I probably didn't do the crowd at Villa Park justice. It's pretty full now! Here we go, it's Villa to get us underway.

It's a fast start from the home side, who win a free kick on the left-hand side of the penalty area after a handball by Naughton. It wasn't far off being a penalty. The set piece is taken by Richardson, but his shot is straight at Fabianski.

Villa remain on the offensive, with much of their early work being conducted down the right flank. Hutton is showing plenty of intent to help in the final third, but so far, his deliveries haven't found a teammate.

Swansea finally build an attack of their own, and it's down to Hutton to get the decisive block to stop Montero sending a ball into the middle. It has been a busy start for the Scottish defender.

CHANCE! Indecision between Gueye and Bacuna leads to Sigurdsson nicking the ball off the pair in the centre of the pitch. However, after advancing towards goal, the playmaker can only curl the ball a yard or so wide of Guzan's left post. He will be disappointed with that.

Villa had started brightly, but they have been second best for the past few minutes. They need to get a foot on the ball or the home contingent could become frustrated. Another powerful run from Montero earns the Swans a corner.

CHANCE! Swansea should be ahead. A corner from Shelvey is headed back across goal by Gomis, but despite the ball arriving at the feet of Fernandez from six yards out, the Argentine can only volley over.

It has been a relatively lively opening quarter-of-an-hour, but Swansea have definitely got a foothold in this match now. Villa need to find a way to shift the momentum or else they could find themselves under pressure, which won't go down well with their supporters.

The pressure continues to come from Swansea, and if it wasn't for a better final ball, they could have got a shot in on goal. Gomis has been heavily involved since kickoff but he is yet to get into a shooting position. Positive signs from the Frenchman though.

For the first time in 10 minutes, Villa work the ball into a promising position but Richardson's cross doesn't beat the first man. He is given a second chance, but Taylor gets the better of Jordan Ayew at the back post.

SHOT! Better from Villa, who make use of Gestede's strengths to create a chance on the edge of the area. However, despite shrugging off the attentions of Fernandez, the striker can only drag a shot wide of the post.

Villa are continuing to show more threat in the final third but they still can muster a clear-cut opportunity. Still, they have started to play like a home side now.

BOOKING! Kyle Naughton is the first man into the book after a late challenge in the Villa midfield. Looked slightly harsh, but he left himself open to a card.

BOOKING! Something out of nothing sparks a mass brawl between the two sides. Richards and Fernandez clash and it leads to Williams getting involved to try to calm things down. The yellow card is out for Richards and Williams, but it was difficult to tell whether Fernandez followed them into the book.

Jordan Ayew leads a swift Villa move through the middle and the ball finds its way to the left flank where Richardson is waiting. The left-back floats a ball into the middle but it's difficult for Gestede to get involved and the ball is cleared.

Like with Villa earlier in the match, it's Swansea's turn to endure a lull going forward. As expected, it hasn't been the greatest game as far as action in the final third is concerned.

CHANCE! Bacuna whips an outswinging corner into the penalty area where Gestede rises above the Swansea defence to head over the crossbar. Very nearly a trademark goal for the former Blackburn Rovers frontman.

Hutton deserves credit for trying to get Villa going down the right, but he doesn't appear to be on the same wavelength as his teammates. He tried to make inroads into the penalty area but he never received the ball back off Ayew.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time whistle has gone at Villa Park and we remain goalless after a rather uninspiring opening 45 minutes. Swansea had a couple of decent openings in the early stages, but aside from that, it has been poor from both sides.

There was a grand total of six shots during that opening period, with just one finding the target. I'm struggling to recall which chance that was? Anyway, there were five corners - three of which went to Swansea - while the Welsh club shaded the possession stats. Regardless of that information though, all you need to know is that things can only get better...we hope.

Despite the game being uneventful, you have to wonder whether both teams would take this result? It's perhaps negative but they need points on the board. It will be interesting to see who makes their move first after the restart.

The two teams have made their way back out. We will be getting back underway very shortly.

Swansea get the game started again. Let's see what Sherwood and Monk have said to their teams at the break.

CHANCE! Grealish, who was anonymous during the opening 45 minutes, plays in Agbonalhor, who was anonymous during the opening 45 minutes, behind the Swansea defence, but the former England international can only curl wide of the far post from 12 yards out. That's a massive opportunity.

Whatever Sherwood has said, his team have listened. Bacuna does superbly down the right before drilling the ball across the six-yard box. It only needs a touch but neither Agbonlahor or Gestede can provide it.

Up the other end, an inventive ball from Shelvey almost finds Gomis, but Guzan is out to punch clear. Montero has a chance to cross back into the box but his delivery is easily cleared.

Well my theory that both teams will be content with this current scoreline has proven wrong. It's end-to-end action now with the wing men being brought into play. Ayew has earned a free kick for Villa in a threatening position on the right.

The set piece from Bacuna is headed behind for a corner by Naughton, who then heads away the corner. Disappointing if you are a home supporter.

Villa have several more attempts to get the ball into the box blocked before Swansea break through Shelvey, before a cross into the middle goes behind goal kick. I never thought I would be saying this, but this game is ridiculously open now.

CHANCE! Shelvey is becoming more influential in this game now and an outstanding through-ball finds Gomis, on the right-hand side of the box. The Frenchman decides to go for goal with his first touch, but his low drive just misses the far post.

Wow, what a 60 seconds! Moments after Guzan pulled off a stunning block at point-blank range from Sigurdsson, the ball found its way up the other end and after the ball was hung up to the back post by Agbonlahor, Ayew had the simple task of heading the ball into the bottom corner for his first goal for Villa.

The Villa fans are in full voice now. They looked in danger of slipping a goal behind but now we get to see how they handle being in a winning position. They haven't held a lead in the Premier League since blowing a two-goal cushion against Leicester City.

Oh my! Swansea win a free kick from around 25 yards out and Sigurdsson manages to pull rank ahead of Shelvey. Luckily for Swansea, it works as the playmaker curls an immaculate free kick into the corner. Guzan was maybe a yard too far to his left but that is some effort.

That situation all came about because of a needless foul by Richards. His side have paid the full price. Swansea are very much in the ascendancy now and Villa have it all to do yet again.

SUBSTITUTION! Sherwood makes his first substitution and it comes as no surprise that Grealish has been withdrawn. He has done nothing this afternoon. Carles Gill is on in his place.

SUBSTITUTION! It's Swansea's turn to make a change. Modou Barrow has replaced Montero, who has drifted in and out of this game. 14 minutes to go, can Barrow make an impact?

BOOKING! Within a minute, Barrow attempts to skin Richardson down the right but the left-back decides to bring his run to an abrupt halt. Easy decision for the referee.

As we enter the last 10 minutes, the chances have dried up a touch. There's no shortage of commitment though. Both sets of players know that this could potentially be a pivotal 10 minutes for their managers.

SHOT! Better from Villa, who work the ball towards the edge of the box where Jordan Ayew is waiting. The attacker has options but he decides to take the shot on, striking a half-volley straight at Fabianski.

CHANCE! Villa are so, so lucky to survive here. After taking the ball past a defender, space opens up for Shelvey to move towards goal but he drills his strike into the stands from around 16 yards. He should have at least hit the target.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Both sides make alterations, with Traore coming on for Agbonlahor and Cork replacing Shelvey.

Disaster for Villa! Disaster for Sherwood! Richardson goes missing in the left-back position and that allows Naughton all the time in the world to drive a low cross into the box for Ayew, who slides in and sends the ball past Guzan from six yards.

Villa win a corner on the right. They must force an equaliser here. The ball finds its way through to Lescott, but he volleys over from seven yards. It is on his wrong foot, but that's a terrible effort.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

Swansea win a corner on the left, and that could be enough for them to see this match out. The Villa supporters are leaving in their droves.

Traore tries to get a cross in from the right, but it goes straight out of play, much to the amusements of the jubilant Swansea fans. They are seeing their side end a five-match winless run here.

The final whistle goes at Villa Park and Swansea have come from behind to secure the three points in the West Midlands. They were far from convincing in patches, but they probably just about to take the spoils. As for Villa, is this the end for Tim Sherwood? His side suffer their seventh one-goal defeat of the campaign.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match but we hope that you can stick around for all of the results and reaction that are coming in as we speak. Goodbye for now.