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Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa FA Cup predictions: Tips, odds and team news

Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa predictions: tips, odds & team news

Aston Villa get their 2023/24 FA Cup campaign underway with a trip to Championship side Middlesbrough on Saturday at 5:30pm (UK time).

Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa odds

MIDDLESBROUGH VS ASTON VILLA
Squawka

*Odds correct as of 07:40 on January 4th

Aston Villa are flying in the Premier League right now and will have a top-four finish in their sights, but fans may also fancy a cup run and the chance for a first piece of major silverware since the 1995/96 EFL Cup. The Villans are seven-time FA Cup winners with only five teams winning the competitions more, but they haven’t lifted the trophy since 1957, most recently being losing finalists to Arsenal in 2015 – beaten 4-0 at Wembley. Since then it has been despair in the FA Cup, with Villa being knocked out in the fourth round before seven-straight exits at the first hurdle. To put that in other terms, Villa have lost nine of their last 10 FA Cup ties.

But Middlesbrough are one-time FA Cup finalists, losing to Chelsea in 1997, and have a host of early exits in their recent history. In three of the past four seasons, Boro have bowed out in the third round, with the sole exception their run to the quarter-finals in 2021/22 when they were beaten by Chelsea. Boro’s last four FA Cup defeats have been to Premier League sides, but they did also beat Manchester United and Tottenham en route to the quarter-finals two seasons ago. Middlesbrough have also had fun in the cup this season, reaching the semi-finals of the EFL Cup where they will battle Mauricio Pochettino’s side for a place at Wembley.

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Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa predictions

Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa: Predictions

Bet Prediction Best odds
BTTS? Yes 13/20 with 10bet
Correct Score Middlesbrough 1-1 Aston Villa 15/2 with Bet Goodwin
First Goalscorer Ollie Watkins 7/2 with Midnite

Odds correct at the time of writing. 18+ Only. Terms and Conditions Apply.

The stats behind our Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa predictions:

  • Middlesbrough’s last four FA Cup defeats have been to Premier League sides.
  • Aston Villa have lost nine of their last 10 FA Cup ties.
  • Unai Emery has lost all three domestic cup games as Aston Villa manager.
  • Middlesbrough have won all five of their cup games this season.

Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa match tip

Double Chance: Middlesbrough/Draw @ 11/8 with Sky Bet

Now, all signs would point to Aston Villa winning this game, but there are reasons why you might back Middlesbrough to either win or at least take the tie to a replay. Unai Emery has lost all three domestic cup games as Aston Villa manager, including last season’s FA Cup third-round tie against Stevenage. Villa have also lost nine of their last 10 FA Cup ties, exiting in the third round in each of the past seven seasons. And, of course, Boro will be boosted by their deep EFL Cup run this season.

Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa team news

Middlesbrough team news

In  Out Doubtful
Darragh Lenihan, Tommy Smith, Paddy McNair, Lewis O’Brien, Hayden Hackney, Marcus Forss, Seny Dieng

Michael Carrick has a long list of injury worries, with the likes of Darragh Lenihan, Paddy McNair, Lewis O’Brien and Marcus Forss all out. Seny Dieng will miss out with Africa Cup of Nations duty, after being selected by Senegal.

Aston Villa team news

In  Out Doubtful
Boubacar Kamara Emi Buendia, Tyrone Mings, Robin Olsen, Bertrand Traore Youri Tielemans

Boubacar Kamara will be available following suspension, while Youri Tielemans could potentially return from injury. However, Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings remain long-term absentees, with no telling updates on Bertrand Traore, who has been called up to the Africa Cup of Nations by Burkina Faso.

Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa head-to-head record

  • 16 March 2019 – Aston Villa 3-0 Middlesbrough – Championship
  • 1 December 2018 – Middlesbrough 0-3 Aston Villa – Championship
  • 15 May 2018 – Aston Villa 0-0 Middlesbrough – Championship
  • 12 May 2018 – Middlesbrough 0-1 Aston Villa – Championship
  • 30 December 2017 – Middlesbrough 0-1 Aston Villa – Championship

Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last five games against Middlesbrough, all of which came in the Championship. Four of those were victories, with the only exception a goalless draw in the second leg of the 2017/18 Championship play-off semi-finals — after Villa had won the first leg.

Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa Squawka Says

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