This is the semi-final of the League Cup and the first match played between these two sides as Bradford city host Aston Villa. Bradford’s journey to the semi-final has been an epic one, beating each team from one of the three divisions that are currently above Bradford city. Additionally they continue their penalty run after beating Arsenal in their ninth consecutive penalty victory. The semi-final encounter will also bring financial security too Bradford with the team bound to make 1 million through the semi-final appearances.
Aston Villa have begun their journey of recovering some much needed confidence after conceding 15 goals and losing all their festive matches. It wasn’t until the 2-2 draw at Swansea and their FA Cup victory against Ispwich that has finally begun to spring confidence into the team. Aston Villa are the favourites here because of their current League but they are coming up against a team that has knocked out Wigan and Arsenal.
Bradford Team News:
Forward James Hanson and defender James Meredith are all doubts for the game due to illness and injury. While Kyel Reid and Carl McHugh are fit again and may feature
Aston Villa Team News:
Marc Albrighton is out injured, Westwood is cup tied and El Ahamdi is with Morocco at the African Cup of Nations. Vlaar and Dunne remain long-term injuries
Bradford Facts:
Bradford have already eliminated Premier League sides Wigan Athletic and Arsenal from the League Cup this year. No fourth-tier side has ever defeated three top-flight teams in the same League Cup competition.
Bradford have only once made the semi-finals of a major cup competition, beating Blackburn 3-0 in the last four of the 1911 FA Cup
Phil Parkinson’s side have only lost three of their 17 games at Valley Parade in all competitions this term, with Rochdale (2-4) the only team to win there by more than a single goal.
Aston Villa Facts:
Aston Villa have won all 19 previous League Cup ties against teams from the fourth tier, scoring 95 in total in 27 games (including replays and second legs) and never failing to net.
This will be Aston Villa’s 14th appearance in the League Cup semi-final, equalling the record held by Arsenal and Liverpool.
The Villans have progressed through eight of their previous 13 semi-finals, including in their last one against Blackburn in 2010, though they have only won two of 13 first-leg games (D7 L4).
Likely-Lineups:
Duke
Darby-McArdle-Good-Ravenhill
Jones-Atkinson-Jones
Doyle-Hines-Wells
Bent-Weimann
Benteke
N’Zogbia-Bannan-Delph
Bennett-Baker-Clark-Lowton
Given
Predictions:
Bradford City 1-2 Aston Villa
This is going to be a seriously close game, Bradford City did beat Arsenal and that’s why I can’t predict a crushing victory. I respect our opponents and I think they’ll give us a good game. I was even tempted to predict a draw! I think that Bent will be fired up, N’Zogbia has impressed but I couldn’t predict our starting 11 and I think that’s going to be the biggest surprise tonight.
You can also predict the game, all you have to do is comment below what you think the scoreline will be. You get 4 points for the correct score and a point for the correct result. Here is the top 5!
joty: 19
adam2231: 11
MJVILLA: 10
Giddyvillian: 10
langforvilla: 7
christ on a fuckin climbing frame WTF?!!
i could only watch the 1st half coz i had to return to work, we weren’t great but a bit unlucky to go in one down, they had one shot on target courtesey of a deflection.
i was fully expecting to come back and see it 3-1 but not to them!
wtf is going on? i give up i really do!
and don’t bank on us going through there will be massive nerves at VP coz of this, we conceed early which we are well capable of doing we will be 4-1 down.
FFS! villa.
Can someone get a message to Lambert to let him know we need
1. A game plan
2. A defensive coach
3. A strong ox-like defensive midfielder
4. A proper playmaker
5. A centre half who has pace
6. A striker to replace that lazy money grabbing Gabby
Right now ………….
Otherwise he may be out of a job come March
21 goals against us in the last 6 games. An average of 3,5 per game. That´s not acceptable.
We played not good enough today but we were unlucky with our chances too. But we have to score always 2 or 3 goals to get something out of our games because we let them in. We need new defensive players. Confidence of the current defenders are rock bottom. Their body language says it all.
what was that performance all about, we are no better than Coventry at the minute because we cant even beat a league 2 team. Why are we just kicking and hoping for one person to create a goal. This is poor football ive seen better on a sunday morning. Why is our chairman such a tight arse you need to keep your assets not sell them for a quick buck you american arse wipe. Martin o’ neal was the best manager of this era at villa park the team respected him and trusted him to help deliver a winning combination this has been ruined by a money orientated self obsesed american. We can only hope that we buy some decent players in this window or we are really going to struggle to survive this diabolical season of torment being display by such an inexperianced young team.when you facing the bottom it is not a time to be building your youth team.I hope Randy learner gets the message spend your money or piss off!
Funny old game, should have been 2/3 up by 20 minutes get mugged by a deflection. Come out again after half time all guns blazing, get mugged again. Finally Weiman gets to play in the middle, shows Benteke/Bent/N’Zogbia how to play there, pulls back all important away goal. Oops more crap defending another goal to them.
Chelsea get done 2 – 0 at home, Swamsea favourites to go through to Final, we almost beat them last week!
Tranmere came to Villa Park 3 – 1 to the good, one of the best floodlit matches seen down there, we went through, to win the final.
Yes we are pretty bad at the moment, but is at Villa Park we put in the numerous clear chances we had last night early on, who knows????
Good summary Villa Missionary.
I see that Swansea have never won anything of note. The way opens up for a final when Villa don’t have the memory of an 8-0 thumping to overcome. Assuming we can come back from 3-1 again.