Bradford v Aston Villa

After sensationally dumping out Arsenal, can League Two Bradford upset the odds once more and take a first-leg advantage to Villa Park?

 

Bradford have already eliminated Premier League sides Wigan Athletic and Arsenal from the League Cup this year. No fourth-tier side has ever defeated three top-flight teams in the same League Cup competition.

 

Aston Villa have won all 19 previous League Cup ties against teams from the fourth tier, scoring 95 in total in 27 games (including replays and second legs) and never failing to net.

 

The Villans and the Bantams have met twice before in the League Cup, with Villa winning both games (Round 1 in 1962 and the Quarter-Final in 1965), scoring 11 goals in the process.

 

This will be Aston Villa's 14th appearance in the League Cup semi-final, equalling the record held by Arsenal and Liverpool.

 

The Villans have progressed through eight of their previous 13 semi-finals, including in their last one against Blackburn in 2010, though they have only won two of 13 first-

leg games (D7 L4).

 

The Bantams will become only the fourth bottom-tier side to make the semi-finals of this competition; of the previous three, only Rochdale (1962) have made the final.

 

Bradford have only once made the semi-finals of a major cup competition, beating Blackburn 3-0 in the last four of the 1911 FA Cup.

 

Phil Parkinson's side have only lost three of their 17 games at Valley Parade in all competitions this term, with Rochdale (2-4) the only team to win there by more than a

single goal.

 

Aston Villa have won four and lost just two of their last eight away games in all competitions, though they did lose 0-8 at Chelsea and 0-5 at Man City in this run.

 

Gabriel Agbonlahor has scored five goals in his last seven League Cup appearances.

 

All but one of the six goals Bradford have scored in the League Cup this term have come in the 83rd minute or later.

 

Bet HERE

Viewed 586 times