ENGLISH FA CUP- ASTON VILLA VS MANCHESTER CITY TODAY

 

 

Injuries have meant Gabriel Agbonlahor has only played just one minute of football under Remi Garde's management at Aston Villa.

TEAM NEWS

Injury-hit striker Gabriel Agbonlahor could feature against Manchester City despite only playing one minute of football under Villa boss Remi Garde.

However the Frenchman remains without defender Alan Hutton and midfielder Carlos Sanchez (both hamstring).
Manchester City are missing playmaker Kevin de Bruyne (ligament damage) after he was stretchered off against Everton.
Defenders Vincent Kompany, Aleksandar Kolarov and Eliaquim Mangala are set to return to training next week.

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAID:

Remi Garde (Aston Villa): "The game against Manchester City is a big opportunity for us. We are in a good moment. We lack a bit of confidence in front of goal, but I'm pleased we're not conceding too many goals. That's important."
Manuel Pellegrini (Manchester City): "It's not our intention to bring anyone in. I trust in my squad and I am sure we will be competitive. [Winning the quadruple] is not a realistic target. We have to look at Aston Villa. If we don't beat them it is all over."

MATCH FACTS

• Manchester City have progressed past Aston Villa in the last three meetings in the cup, including a 3-0 fifth-round win en route to winning the trophy in 2011.
• Aston Villa have won more cup matches (3) than league games (2) so far in 2015-16.
• Aston Villa have won three of their last four FA Cup games against fellow Premier League sides, all en route to the final last season.
• The Villans have scored in each of their last 12 home games in the FA Cup, scoring two or more on 10 occasions.
• The last time City lost against a team from the same division in the FA Cup was in 2013 when they were defeated 1-0 in the final by Wigan Athletic.
• Villa have conceded just one goal in their last four competitive matches.
• Man City have won only two of their last nine competitive away matches (W2 D3 L4).