2023-24 FA Cup: Fourth Round Replay – Aston Villa vs Chelsea

Aston Villa host Chelsea at Villa Park in their Fourth Round replay in 2023-24 FA Cup. 

Victory would see Villa or Chelsea host Leeds United in the Fifth Round on Wednesday 28 February, live on ITV4.

 

Team News

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Ezri Konsa is ruled out for Aston Villa after he suffered a knee injury during their dominant Premier League win at Sheffield United.

Douglas Luiz (illness), Nicolo Zaniolo (knock) and Pau Torres (ankle) could return, but Tyrone Mings (knee), Lucas Digne, Jhon Duran (both hamstring) and Emiliano Buendia (ACL) remain ruled out.

Chelsea have no fresh injury concerns to report after their Premier League defeat at home to Wolves last Sunday.

Marc Cucurella (ankle), Levi Colwill (tendon), Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Lesley Ugochukwu (all hamstring), Wesley Fofana (ACL), Romeo Lavia (knock) and Robert Sanchez (knee) remain ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Villa host Chelsea at Villa Park on Wednesday 7 February at 8pm GMT, live on ITV1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Aston Villa’s second FA Cup tie against Chelsea to go to a replay, having first done so in Jnaury 1987, which the Blues won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
• Chelsea are playing Villa away at Villa Park in a FA Cup replay for the first time.
• Villa are winless in their last five FA Cup matches against Chelsea (D2, L3).
• Villa have won all four FA Cup replays played at home this century (W4).
• Chelsea have won all four FA Cup replays played away from home this century (W4).

 

Prediction

After experiencing a dip in performance last month, Villa looked back to their absolute best in a ruthlessly clinical yet dominant first half at Sheffield Utd, before displaying excellent defensive discipline to comfortably see the game out without conceding.

Chelsea meanwhile looked also-rans in their defeat against Wolves because they lacked much end product, intensity and passion, amidst some awful defending so a huge all-round improvement is required here if they want to keep any dreams of a cup double alive.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues must therefore start the match well and show more consistency because if Villa come flying out of the blocks and they can’t go toe-to-toe in intensity quickly, I do expect Chelsea to lose this unless Unai Emery’s Villains have an off night.

Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea

Result: Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea