Middlesbrough host high-flying Aston Villa at the Riverside Stadium in the Third Round of 2023-24 FA Cup.
Michael Carrick’s Boro look to avoid a fourth Third Round exit in five seasons, whilst Villa will be desperate to avoid crashing out at this stage for the eighth consecutive season.
Team News
Middlesbrough have no fresh injury concerns after their league defeat to Coventry on New Year’s Day.
New signing, Finn Azaz is ineligible to make his debut after he wasn’t registered in time to be available for selection.
Hayden Hackney (groin), Matt Crooks and Emmanuel Latte Lath (both hamstring) could be in contention if can prove their fitness.
Anfernee Dijksteel (foot/ankle), Lewis O’Brien (ankle/leg), Paddy McNair (back) and Marcus Forss (thigh) remain absent.
Seny Dieng, Riley McGree and Samuel Silvera are away on international duty.
Aston Villa could welcome Matty Cash back into contention after he skipped their league win over Burnley, due to illness.
Boubacar Kamara (suspension) could feature but Pau Torres is being rested following his return to action against Burnley, following his recovery from an ankle injury.
Robin Olsen (knock), Tyrone Mings (knee), Lucas Digne (hamstring), Youri Tielemans (calf) and Emiliano Buendia (ACL) remain ruled out.
Bertrand Traore is away on international duty at Africa Cup of Nations for Burkina Faso, despite having missed recent matches with a muscle injury.
When is Kick-Off?
Middlesbrough host Aston Villa at Riverside Stadium on Saturday 6 January at 5:30pm GMT, live on BBC One in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough have won one of their five previous FA Cup meetings against Aston Villa (W1, D2, L2), with all five meetings having come across three separate ties in the 1950s.
- Aston Villa are visiting Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in the FA Cup for the first time, but avoided defeats in two previous visits at Boro’s former home – Ayresome Park (W1, D1).
- Only one of Middlesbrough’s five previous FA Cup meetings against Villa finished goalless, which came at Ayreson Park in a replay in January 1950.
- Boro have lost three of their last five FA Cup matches at home to top-flight opposition (W1, D1, L3).
- Villa are unbeaten in five of their last seven away matches to EFL opposition in FA Cup (W3, D2, L2).
Prediction
Despite their inconsistent league form, Boro have already done well in the Carabao Cup with one eye already upon their semi-final first leg against Chelsea on Tuesday, which could well affect how they approach this game in regard to team selection.
Michael Carrick’s Boro however will need to be defensively better after they let their lead slip in their loss to Coventry, although it can’t be forgotten that they currently have a limited squad due to injuries but this game is a chance to build some momentum for that Carabao Cup match.
Villa meanwhile aren’t exactly consistent on the road with just two clean sheets this season and their defence have recently seemed to switch off when in the lead in their last two games, which is a worry because they will need to be at their best if want to avoid another scalp.
Now I do expect Boro to give Villa a proper test but if Unai Emery can utilise players like Moussa Diaby and Ollie Watkins even as substitutes, I can see the Villains having enough to avoid a replay.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-2 Aston Villa
Result: Middlesbrough 0-1 Aston Villa