Martin O’Neill decided to stick with Heskey and Carew up front despite Agbonlahor being back.

Tottenham picked up all three points against Blackburn earlier on today, so the pressure was on Villa to pick up a win, although Spurs are the next team to visit Stokes Britannia Stadium.

It was a scrappy game with both teams creating very little, and when they did the end product ended up being poor or the opposition defence just wouldn’t give way.

And in the end it was probably Stoke who had the better of the chances, with James Collins and Stephen Warnock impressing most for Villa in the never say die attitude our players tend to have this season.

Before the game I think most Villans really wanted to win, but would of taken a point from Stoke. It’s been proved in the past that it’s no easy place to visit.

In the end I think the result was fair on both sides, both believe they may have won the game, but one thing for certain is that both sets of defence deserve great credit.

Next up for Villa, is one of their games in hand when they take on Wigan at the DW Stadium.

I say easy, but I’m sure every football fan will tell you the Britannia isn’t an easy place to visit, and I expect one hell of a battle on our hands tomorrow.

Villa has games to spare over teams above them but they won’t want to be dropping any points from now and until the end of the season, starting with tomorrow.

Gabriel Agbonlahor should make a return to action, after missing last weekend’s game at Reading with a virus. Gabby’s currently scored 14 goals so far this season, and is 1 away from scoring his half century for the club.

There are no new injury updates for Villa, so the big question for O’Neill would be who does he start up top?

Ryan Shawcross (suspension) and Salif Diao (hamstring) are both missing for Tony Pulis’s men, while there are doubts over Ricardo Fuller (flu), Glenn Whelan (hamstring) and Danny Higginbotham.

It’s going to be a tough game, but I believe we could snatch all three points here, and I would be disappointed with any other result.

AVILLAFAN.COM PREDICTION: Away Win

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Fulham were the side who took the lead after dominating the first half and they were soon awarded on the 39th minute.

Keanu-March Brown slotted in Marcelo Trotta after a mazy run and the striker put the ball in the bottom corner.

The equaliser comes five minutes before the hour mark. Ryan Simmonds won possession on the left, slotted in Roberts who crossed low to Kofi Poyser in the middle and the forward expertly tucked it home.

Neither side could find a winner however, so the game went to extra time.

Trotta put Fulham back in the lead for Fulham on 113 and thought he had won the game when he found space and struck home from a tight angle.

However, Villa had different ideas when Devine scored from close range to take this tie to penalties.

Barrett denied Fulham’s first two takers, Joshua Pritchard and Richard Peniket, while Deeney tucked away the winning penalty to send Villa through.

FULHAM: Bettinelli, Marquez-Sanchez, Kamau, Jones, Toure, Pierre, Marsh-Brown, Smith, Trotta, Peniket, Harris. Subs: Fry, Pritchard (for Smith, 99), Maloney, Frei (for Marquez-Sanchez, 63), Quinn (for Jones, 80).

VILLA: Barrett, Grocott, Deeney, Devine, Williams, Blythe, Lampkin, Carruthers, Poyser, Simmonds, Roberts. Subs: Halfhuid (for Roberts, 75), Johnstone, Berry (for Lampkin, 114), Taylor, Nelson-Addy (for Blythe, 80).

I’m sure we have all had a bluenose come up to us and laugh about what happened in the Carling Cup Final – they couldn’t accept that Nemanja Vidic should of sore red, it was all purely because we was rubbish.

Well what goes around comes around. Birmingham failed to progress to the Semi Final of the FA Cup in a game, if we are all honest, they were expected to win.

The excuse’s come and fell on death ears, very much the same way our excuses did on the Monday morning after the cup final. But what really made me laugh was where Villa fans said by having Vidic sent off, it wouldn’t mean victory, but a good chance. Birmingham fans seem to believe that Ridgewell’s goal that never was should of counted – which I do agree with – but then they would of gone on to win the game? Come on!

Just remember Birmingham you are where you belong, still the second team in the Midlands, and still jealous and bitter by the fact that Villa is going to Wembley for the second time this season.

And yes there’s a possibility that we could lose, just like we could win – but at least we are there and no matter what excuse you come up with, you know deep down that you wish Birmingham were there to!

So, Wemberleeee, Wemberleeee, it’s the famous part of London that the Blues will never see!

Villa joined Portsmouth and Chelsea in the hat and one of Tottenham or Fulham, depending on who wins in the replay at White Hart Lane.

The FA Cup Semi Final Draw:

ASTON VILLA vs Chelsea
Portsmouth v Tottenham/Fulham

An upset looked like it was on the cards when Reading went two-up just before half time.

Reading took the lead on 27 minutes when a corner from Howard was headed on by Mills and Long was free at the back post to head past Friedel.

The home side soon doubled their lead when Sigurdsson found Kebe who outpaced Warnock and he cut the ball back across goal for Long to make it 2-0.

I will admit that I gave up hope of any comeback. We looked down, and out after last week’s defeat at Wembley but how wrong could I have been. Martin O’Neill deserves credit for whatever he said in the dressing room because Villa comes out in the second half on a mission.

In a thrilling first ten minutes in the second half Villa completed turned this tie on its head.

On the 47th minute Downing passed to Carew who was in the box, he then chipped a little ball across goal only for Cuellar to mis-kick the ball. But coming in at the back post was Ashley Young and he fired the ball into the back of the net.

Villa was back to their normal selves. Milner found Downing in aches of space on the wing, who then swung in a beautiful cross to reach John Carews head, and Villa are back on level terms.

And then to complete the turnaround of the tie Warnock over lapped Young on the wing and then cantered the ball for John Carew to make it 3-2.

The days’ scoring was complete when John Carew was brought down in the area in the last minute of the game. The big Norwegian stepped up and booked Villas place in the Semi Final.

I know it seems so far away after last week’s result, but guess what lads.. WE ARE GOING TO WEMBLEY AGAIN!!

A lot is being made of this theory that Villa haven’t won in March under Martin O’Neill but I fully expect this voodoo, or whatever you want to call it to be broken, and broken in style as Reading face the backlash of last week’s result.

Villa will be backed by a strong 4,000 travelling fans as Villa sold their whole capacity for the game earlier on in the week.

The FA Cup is known to be the romantic cup, they cup that allows the giant killings and Reading is proof of this. With a massive victory over Liverpool under their belts they are going to want to repeat that result against Villa.

Reading will be without on-loan Blackburn defender Zurab Khizanishvili (Cup Tied), Jobi McAnuff (Suspended), Jem Karacan (Hand Injury), and Kalifa Cisse (dead leg). However, the good news for the Royals is Shane Long should return to the bench.

Villa should have a full side to pick from as long as non on the International stars have returned with injuries.

Reading won’t just roll over and die in this game and they will put on a battle, but I fully expect Villa to win here simply because we are the better side.

Avillafan.com Prediction: Away Win.

Habib Beye was rumoured to be in talks with Sunderland in January, but nothing actually come of it, but that doesn’t mean the player is ready to stay at Villa Park beyond the summer. Today’s Daily Star quotes him saying that he’s upset at only playing 10 games in all competitions this season.

Emile Heskey is another who could be on his way. I personally think that Emile has had a good season with Villa, and he’s my choice of striker to play alongside Gabby.

John Carew hasn’t looked himself since he was punished for his of the field antics when he visited a very popular gentleman’s club on Broad Street. When he does play he doesn’t look interested and when he doesn’t play he doesn’t look like he wants to fight for his position.

Nigel Reo-Coker is one player I expect to leave for certain once he’s fit again. It’s no secret he fell out with Martin O’Neill and despite them apparently making up; I can’t see O’Neill wanting to keep him at Villa Park.

So that’s four players who could possibly be leaving, and with Randy Lerner apparently looking for cut backs, will these players be replaced with better players? Or will we have to make do with youth?