FA Cup Friday: Cardiff at Villa Park

We all love the FA Cup and when you get to the fifth round, it starts to become a competition you have to take seriously. I don't mean to suggest we haven't taken it seriously, but when you get here, there isn't room for resting players.

You have to play your best eleven because if we win tonight, we're in the quarter finals and when we start to drop the numbers from rounds, rightly or wrongly, you start to not accept things for that weekend in May. Just in case.

But we haven't left the numbered rounds and this isn't going to be a walk in the park. And if we want a good chance of getting past this round, we need to play a strong side and take this seriously tonight. And I'm sure we will and actually, even if we rest a couple of players, the strength we have on the bench, we're not starting with a weaker side.

I saw something on Twitter yesterday that Watkins will be rested for Malen. I like Watkins but I'm not disappointed if he's rested for Malen and I've really liked what I've seen from Malen and I'm hoping for quite a bit more next season. And I'd not be surprised to see Rashford and Asensio both start tonight. It's not a weakened side if we rest players. 

We're in a good place and it's exciting times and with all this happening we're also just five points from top four with a quarter of the season to go. And with an eye on Tuesday, another competition that leaves the numbered rounds if we proceed, there is a lot be optimistic about. I'll be back later.

But before I go, a mention of Anwar El Ghazi who will be returning to Villa Park tonight. He did okay for us and it appears he's a stand up guy. Hope he gets a nice reception, I'm sure he will. 

Match facts from the BBC

• Aston Villa and Cardiff City have met three times previously in the FA Cup, with the Bluebirds progressing twice (third round in 1926-27, fourth round in 1948-49) and the Villans going through once (third round in 1928-29).

• In all competitions, Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 15 home games against Cardiff City (W13 D2), winning the last seven in a row. Cardiff’s last Villa Park win came back in December 1954.

• Aston Villa have reached the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign. They knocked out Leicester in that season’s fifth round and eventually reached the final, losing 4-0 to Arsenal.

• Cardiff City have reached the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2013-14. They have been eliminated at this stage in nine of 11 previous ties but the two times that they went beyond this stage, they then reached the final (1926-27 and 2007-08).

• While playing outside of the top-flight, Cardiff have been eliminated from their last eight FA Cup ties with Premier League opponents. Their last victory was away at Middlesbrough in the 2007-08 quarter-final, winning 2-0.

• Morgan Rogers has had a hand in three of Aston Villa’s four FA Cup goals in 2024-25 (2 goals, 1 assist), scoring in both matches. He’s also made the most dribbles of any Villa player (6), while he has the second-most chances created (4) and shots attempted (5) this season.