Aston Villa managed to beat Reading today at the Majedski Stadium to ensure there name was in the hat for the FA Cup Semi Final draw.
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
Wilfred Bouma and Curtis Davis last night stepped up there comeback to first team action by both completing 90 minutes for the Reserve side in a 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Villa Park.
Bouma, whos been out of action for around 16 months played his first game since his long term injury problems, while Curtis Davis continued his comeback, after appearing against Brighton in the FA Cup.
Villa took the lead when Andreas Weimann put the ball past Chelsea keeper Rhys Taylor in the seventh minute.
However, the lead didnt last two long as the visitors equalised within three minutes. Kenny Strickland slotted home for Chelsea just inside the penalty area.
Villa got there lead back when Jonathon Hogg crossed the ball into there area, where Curtis Davis headed the ball in the direction of Ciaran Clarke who converted a fantastic overhead kick.
Villa confirmed the victory in the last minute when Hogg was once again involved with the goal. He headed the ball back across the goal from a cross, for Weimann to score his second of the night and give the reserves all three points.
Despite the victory, the spotlight was very much on Bouma, and Davis and they successfully come through there first step back to full fitness.
We are already on the way to Wembley in the League Cup, wouldnt it be nice to be going twice in one season? Well why not? Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool all out, so why can’t we win the domestic double?
Home wins over Blackburn and Brighton see us sitting pretty, and surely one of the favourites but we have to remember Chelsea, Man City and Spurs won’t be easy. And then theres Stoke and Birmingham City who are on good runs at the moment.
Here is the draw in full:
Wolves/Crystal Palace v ASTON VILLA
Man City v Stoke City
Derby v Birmingham City
Bolton v Tottenham/ Leeds
Chelsea v Cardiff City
Fulham v Notts COunty
Reading v WBA
Southampton v Portsmouth
So the long awaited League Cup Semi-Final between Villa and Blackburn at Ewood Park is now just a matter of hours away. After the game being called off already due to the weather last week, fans have had to wait even longer than first anticipated.
Martin O’Neill stated in his pre-match press conferance that Villa will be out there to give it there all as we try and reach our first final since our defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup Final in 2000.
This competiton is now everything for Blackburn as they don’t have much more to play for apart from maybe Premier League survival so they will be fired up despite being battered by Manchester City on Monday night.
Villa look to have a full team ready to choose from, while Blackburn will give late fitness tests to Gael Givet and Benni McCarthy after they both picked up injuries against Man City.
Villa will have a strong official following of 5,325 supporters, which others expected to travel and try and get into the home end and theres no doubt they will get behind the lads as they always do on there day.
I don’t know how much truth is in this, but i was today told that Blackburn have only sold a very dissapointing 11,000 tickets. As i said I’m not sure how much truth is in this but would be terrible if it is true with it being a Semi-Final tie.
Also, if you are travelling to tomorrows game look out for the Avillafan.com coach, which expects to arrive in Blackburn around 3.30pm. We hope to have the Avillafan.com flag flying, however it doesn’t always go to plan on our away trips.
The Mail are today reporting that Carlo Ancelotti is ready to tie up a £4million deal within days.
Chelsea havent been playing there best of late and are now without the likes of Saloman Kalou and Didier Drogba who are representing the Ivory Coast in the African Nations.
The question we have to all ask though is what matters more to Emile? Money or his World Cup dream.
I personally believe he won’t be going anywhere. I rate him as many people on the forums are well aware of, and i would be dissapointed to see him leave.
I also don’t think Martin O’Neill would allow him to leave unless it was somewhere he was guarenteed first team football. O’Neill is a big fan of Heskey, having worked with him at Leicester.
We have to also remember, Heskey hasnt actually said he wants to leave Villa Park. There was rumours a few months ago about him being unhappy about the lack of first team football – but he then come out and denied this and has since been in the Villa first team ahead of John Carew. Hes only been missing the past few games due to injury.
For me this is no more than a theory. A two plus two scenario. Heskey was reportedly unhappy and Chelsea need a striker.
Id expect Emile Heskey to still be playing for Aston Villa when the transfer door slams shut.
