The third round of the FA Cup is one of the major dates in the English football calendar. It’s when the top teams from the Championship and the Premier League enter the draw and many of the teams in the lower divisions are hoping to draw a big team.
However, you always get some teams from the same division meeting each other as it is an open draw and that’s the case in this match between Aston Villa and Swansea City. Both teams are hoping to figure in the Championship promotion race this season but would love a long run in the FA Cup.
The match will be played at Villa Park on Saturday 5th January and the home team will be hoping for a big crowd to send them through.
Aston Villa come into the game having been held to a 2-2 draw in their previous match, which was at home against Queens Park Rangers in the Championship. Aston Villa were 1-0 up in that game but feel 2-1 behind before scoring in the 75th minute to take a share of the spoils.
That result means Aston Villa have failed to win their last two games and trends show they have won only one of their last six matches. However, the win came against upcoming opponents Swansea City.
Aston Villa have scored in each of their last elven games but have kept just a single clean sheet in their last six. They have failed to win any of their last four games at home.
Swansea City will make the trip to Birmingham in good spirits having defeated Reading 4-1 in their previous Championship game. That result was enough to keep them in the hunt for a playoff place this season.
However, it was their first win in their last four attempts and trends show Swansea City have lost two and drawn one of their last four matches, with one defeat coming at home against Aston Villa.
Away form has been decent recently and Swansea City have won three of their last five away games in the Championship. There have been victories at Bolton Wanderers, Brentford and Reading. Trends show Swansea City have scored in each of their last six away games but have kept only one clean sheet.
Looking ahead to the team news and Aston Villa are still without Ørjan Håskjold Nyland, Axel Tuanzebe, Jack Grealish, Neil Taylor and Henri Lansbury. Striker Tammy Abraham is in form and should start up-front.
Swansea City will be without Martin Olsson, who is out for the rest of the season and Tom Carroll who has a hip injury. Luciano Narsingh could be available following a hamstring injury but is likely to only make the bench.
Given the form of the teams, this is a match which should see plenty of goals. Both teams should score but Aston Villa will hope they can finally make home advantage count and progress to the fourth round.