League Two side Stevenage travel to the West Midlands with an FA Cup giant killing on their minds as they meet Premier League mid-table outfit Aston Villa at Villa Park.
While the hosts are currently focusing on breaking into the top half in the top flight, the visitors are embarking on their own quest for promotion to League One.
Match preview
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Both Unai Emery and Julen Lopetegui experienced their first taste of a West Midlands derby in Wednesday's Premier League affair, where the spoils were shared in a 1-1 draw courtesy of strikes from Daniel Podence and Danny Ings.
Podence weaved his way through a sea of claret shirts to break the deadlock with just 12 minutes on the clock, but substitute Ings took full advantage of an untimely slip by Jose Sa to chip the hapless Wolves goalkeeper for the equalising goal with 12 minutes left to go.
Truly defining the solid yet unspectacular label, ex-Arsenal boss Emery has made a habit of winning one then failing to win one since taking over from Steven Gerrard - claiming three triumphs from six in all tournaments as the Lions sit 11th in the Premier League table.
Runs in knockout tournaments are Emery's bread and butter, though, with the Spaniard coming to the West Midlands with four Europa League winners' medals in his suitcase, but seven-time FA Cup champions Villa have experienced disappointment after disappointment since last collecting the trophy in 1957.
Indeed, the Lions - who reached the 2014-15 final only to be crushed 4-0 by Arsenal - have been knocked out in the third round for the past six years, and they have only beaten Wycombe Wanderers in the competition since their last appearance in the showpiece event.
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The Boro faithful have little experience of tasting defeat in the 2022-23 season, with Stevenage seemingly possessing a one-way ticket to promotion to League One after a nine-year stay in the doldrums of League Two.
Steve Evans's side could hardly have been handed a friendlier fixture to begin the New Year against a goal-shy Gillingham outfit, and Carl Piergianni's header settled the contest in the Boro's favour to further boost their chances of a top-two finish.
Stevenage have taken 51 points from their 24 games this term to occupy second place in the League Two table, now just two points behind Leyton Orient amid the leaders' patchy run of form, and they hold an unassailable five-point lead over Northampton Town in third place.
The visitors have already defeated Gateshead and King's Lynn Town away from home in the FA Cup this season - scoring three goals in each game - but they have not progressed beyond the third round of the FA Cup since the 2013-14 season.
Nevertheless, Evans's side bring a nine-game unbeaten run in the top flight to the West Midlands for their first-ever showdown with Aston Villa in any competition, but Evans is no stranger to losing such FA Cup matches, facing Premier League opposition four times as a manager and going winless and scoreless on each occasion.
Team News
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Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz was able to shake off his knock in time to take on Wolves, but the same could not be said for John McGinn, who remains in the treatment room with his hamstring strain.
Diego Carlos remains a long-term absentee with his Achilles injury, but Jacob Ramsey is edging closer to a return from his thigh problem and may be in with a chance of featuring here. Jan Bednarek and Leander Dendoncker are also fine to feature, despite being cup-tied for the EFL Cup.
Emery will no doubt consider the latter two for starts in a much-changed lineup, where Robin Olsen, Morgan Sanson, Ludwig Augustinsson and maybe even the recalled Aaron Ramsey could also come into consideration.
As for Stevenage, centre-back Terence Vancooten was withdrawn just before the hour mark against Gillingham with an unspecified injury, so Michael Bostwick may be called upon here.
Left-back Saxon Earley has been recalled to Norwich City, while midfielder Arthur Read has also left for Colchester United, but Daryl Horgan and Jake Forster-Caskey have arrived at the club in the January window, although they are both cup-tied for this one.
A similar XI to that of the win over Gillingham should take to the Villa Park turf here, with five-goal strikers Danny Rose and Luke Norris spearheading the charge.
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Olsen; Cash, Chambers, Bednarek, Augustinsson; Sanson, Dendoncker, A. Ramsey; Coutinho, Ings, K. Young
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Ashby-Hammond; James-Wildin, Sweeney, Piergianni, Bostwick, Clark; Gilbey, Reeves, Roberts; Norris, Rose
We say: Aston Villa 2-0 Stevenage
With nothing to lose and an impressive unbeaten League Two streak to shout about, Stevenage can play without fear on the Villa Park turf against what will surely be a second-string Lions side.
However, it is extremely difficult to imagine another FA Cup shock taking place in the West Midlands, and while Emery's side cannot expect to score at will, they should still cruise to a spot in the fourth round.
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