Swindon Town welcome five time League Cup winners Aston Villa to the County Ground for the Fourth Round tie; our first match at this stage of the competition since the 1994/95 season.

League Cup Progress… 

After Brighton & Hove Albion were dispatched 3-0 with a superb second half performance in the televised Capital One Cup First Round match, Town travelled to Stoke City.

Swindon stormed to a two goal lead at half time with a James Collins double, before Kenwyne Jones and Jon Walters took the tie to extra time. Aden Flint put Town back ahead only for Peter Crouch to draw the Potters level for the second time. With a minute on the clock James Collins completed his hat trick to finish the score at 4-3.

Burnley met Town in Round Three. After racing to another two goal lead before half time thanks to Paul Benson and Andy Williams, Charlie Austin did get a goal on his return to the County Ground. However this didn’t prove to be enough as the Clarets’ comeback of sorts with put to bed with a late header from Troy Archibald-Henville to finish 3-1.

Entering the competition at the Second Road, Aston Villa dispatched Tranmere Rovers 3-0 at Villa Park with goals from Fabien Delph, Chris Herd and Darren Bent.

A Third Round trip to Manchester City followed and a fantastic comeback to win 4-2 with  two extra time goals from Charles N’Zogbia and Gabi Agbonlahor stunning Eastlands.

Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk Head-to-Head…

In all League, FA Cup and Football League competitions, Town have faced Aston Villa on 11 occasions, winning 2, drawing 3 and defeated 6 times; scoring 10 and conceding 18.

The sides have never met in the League Cup.

At the County Ground, Swindon have 1 win, 2 draw and 3 defeats. That sole victory came on 24th November 1973 in Division Two, with  Dave Moss scoring the only goal.

The two previous matches at the County Ground have been 1-2 defeats for Swindon.

The last meeting was a 5-0 win for Villa at Villa Park, which included a Dean Saunders hat trick.

Swindon-town-fc.co.uk Memorable Match… Swindon 1 Aston Villa 2 | FA Cup Fifth Round | 16th February 1992

Glenn Hoddle’s Swindon put on a great display against Premier League Aston Villa in the first live match ever shown from the County Ground – but goals from Dwight Yorke and Steve Froggatt against the run of play see Villa through to the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup.

My prediction… 

Paolo Di Canio has overseen victories over both Premier League opponents – Wigan Athletic and Stoke City – which he’s faced, so will be confident of making it three. Villa haven’t hit the ground running under Paul Lambert and are without a win in 4 Premier League games since progressing in the League Cup 3rd Round against Man City. A trip to face lower league opponents is hardly what Aston Villa need at this time and following Swindon’s clinical 4-0 win at Stevenage – with a weakened XI – we might have the momentum to beat Villa.

A 2-1 victory for Swindon.

Come on You Reds!