The Baggies have split there games into 3 different sections, with three different price ranges – very much like Villa do at Villa Park.

Villa have been put in the highest group along with Liverpool and Manchester United while the two derby games are only in the second group along with games against the likes of Everton and Chelsea.

I can understand why they have done this in one way because they know that Villa will sell there allocation regardless, so they would want to make maximum profit from the game, while Blues have struggled to sell there home tickets against us in the past two derbies because of apparent high prices.

New Reserves League Layout.

The club have today announced that the reserve side will compete in the new look Reserves League for the 2010/11 season. We will be in the Southern League along sides the likes of Chelsea, and Arsenal.

The new look groups will look as follows:

Southern Group: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Northern Group A: Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Wigan Athletic.

Northern Group B: Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Everton, Liverpool, Sunderland.

At the end of the season the winners of the two Northern groups will play each other and then the winner of that fixture will go on to play the winner of the Southern group to define the ultimate reserve league champions.

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

A win would have meant the Gunners going top of the league but both teams’ inability to find the net made this a frustrating encounter.

Both teams, however, came close to scoring but were denied by the woodwork.

A fine run by Arshavin resulted in Tomas Rosicky rattling the cross bar, and Stewart Downing should have scored with a header but he too, hit the post.

Both managers will be slightly down-hearted after the result but we won’t have to play an Arsenal team that goes to ground at every single opportunity again this season.

Tonight also saw who our opposition would be in the Carling Cup final, Manchester United beating Manchester City 3-1 (4-3 on aggregate).

But the important thing is, Aston Villa will be playing in a cup final at Wembley next month – something I’ve been wanting to say for a long time now.

However, things didn’t look that way early in the first half as Kalinic, someone who couldn’t find the net in the last leg, couldn’t help but score this time around, firing home twice in the first half hour.

At that point, I’ll be honest – I thought we had messed everything up.

But it was hard strike on the six-yard line by former Blackburn player, Stephen Warnock which made us a bit more optimistic.

Things were even sweeter when Gabby Agbonlahor was brought down in the box resulting in being awarded a penalty kick and Samba being sent off. And before you ask, no doubts from me, it definitely was a correct decision.

James Milner didn’t fail to impress as he struck home a powerful penalty, despite Robinso diving the right way.

Just to keep you updated, at this point it was 2-2 and stayed that way until half time.

It was the second half that killed the game off and Blackburn’s sight of a cup final was becoming forever fainter, despite netting another two goals!

On the 52nd minute, an inswinging cross from Stewart Downing found the ball deflecting off the opposing players, with Steven Nzonzi being the unlucky one, ‘scoring’ and own goal to put the Villa 3-2 up (4-2 on aggregate).

It was Agbonlahor next on the scoresheet, first blocking Milner’s shot but managing to find the net from inside the six-yard area.

Next, it was no other than Emile Heskey. Yes, you read it write, Heskey can score in a ten goal match! But credit when it’s due, Emile played very well tonight and took this finish very well, taking the ball round Paul Robinson to finish off Villa’s fith of the match.

And it didn’t stop there!

It was Blackburn’s turn this time, with unmarked Martin Olsson scoring a spectacular over-head volley leaving Brad Guzan with no chance.

We had to wait until the last 10 minutes for the next goal and it came from Rovers again. Brett Emerton this time with a shot just outside the box, finding the bottom corner of the net. And I was worried about where the next goal was going to come from!

But thankfully, it was Ashley Young who rounded off this thrilling match with a fantastic finish, bending it past Robinson.

To conclude this perculiar, but outstanding match, no player for Villa scored more than one goal.

These being Warnock, Milner, Agbonlahor, Heskey, Young and an Nzonzi own goal.

Goals from Kalinic (2), Ollson and Emerton wasn’t enough to send them through as the game finished at a staggering 6-4, surely one of the best semi-finals the competition has seen.

Despite conceding four goals at home, we can now officialy say the words that have been overdue at Villa Park:

‘We’re the famous Aston Villa and we’re going to Wembley!’

It is believed that the home supporters were urging MON to make a change and put a striker on, in which he hit back:

‘That’s why I’m standing here, and you’re sitting over there, you tw*t.’

Not something you hear often from our boss and equally not very professional giving the circumstances.

However, I see it as a good thing.

The remark clearly shows O’Neill’s passion for the club and how much he cares about our success.

His careless approach in responding to the comments suggests, to me, that he was heavily involved in the game and was evidently thinking of ways we could possibly get a winner.

Nonetheless, a more thought-out and considerate retort would be a better solution, but things like this can happen. Football can get to us!

However, competition is hard as Heskey looks to prove his doubters wrong and book himself a trip to South Africa, as does Agbonlahor, and Carew wants a new contract – but ‘The Fonz’ is confident in his ability to impress, when given the chance.

I certainly like him and feel he does deserve a chance, but also respect that we do have better and more experienced players in his position currently.

His movement stands out for me, and his hardwork is evidence of his determination to be successful at Aston Villa.

Delfouneso looks set to be a part of the squad tonight in the League Cup semi-final clash at Ewood Park.

Unfortunately, I won’t be attending the match, but for those of you who are, have a good game and I ask you to cheer on the mighty Villa!

Yes theres no doubt we seem to have consistancy in the team now, thanks to Martin O’Neill but we wanted so much more when Doug Ellis was in charge, and we still want more now but we dont actually seem to be getting it.

Our financies are worst off now than what they were before with us reportedly £70million in debt, and with the club only making £70million a season, that doesnt look to good, compared to Doug Ellis who kept our beloved club debt free.

And lets be honest, no matter who it is, or whos in charge, a debt is a debt.

The highest we finished under Doug Ellis was 4th and we had two league cup victories in that time, while under Randy Lerner we havent won any silverware as of yet and havent finished above 6th yet.

The fact is Doug Ellis was never prepared to take the gamble to move us on to the next level, and up to now neither does Randy Lerner look like doing the same thing.

If we want to be up there we need a chairman whos prepared to gamble by spending big money on pushing us on to bigger and better things. And lets not forget, the bigger and more successful the club, the more money the club then makes from revenue.

As Damo from AVFC Blog said ‘well, everyone feels great and we have a nice mosaic, but we’re a football club. not a restuarant looking for a review’

So for me the verdict is well and truely out on Mr Lerner and his intentions for Aston Villa and the next 12-18 months will show just this.

Avillafan.com will be taking our own coach so be sure to look out for us, and our flag.

This is our best chance of silverware since becoming runners up in the FA Cup 10 years ago, so as you can imagine all Villa fans, myself included are really excited.

You have Martin O’Neill saying that a club of Villa’s size should be compeating for silverware more often, while in the other camp you have Sam Alladyce saying he really hopes Blackburn get something at home tomorrow.

All i know is, the game will be nothing like the one at Villa Park on Saturday. And not just because there will be fans at this one, but because both sides will put out there strongest available eleven and be all guns blazing for a win.

Ive dreamt about Villa lifting a cup at the new wembley since it was built, and i firmly believe this could be our year!!

FA Cup fourth round draw in full:

Southampton v Ipswich Town
Reading/Liverpool v Burnley
Milwall/Derby v Brentford/Doncaster
Bristol/Cardiff v Leicester City
Stoke City v Arsenal
Notts County/Forest Green v Wigan Athletic
Scunthorpe United v Manchester City
West Bromwich Albion v Plymouth Argyle/Newcastle United
Everton v Nottingham Forest/Birmingham City
Accrington Stanley/Gillingham v Fulham
Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield United/QPR
Portsmouth/Coventry City v Sunderland
Preston North End v Chelsea
Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion
Tranmere/Wolves v Crystal Palace
Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United