Aston Villa v Manchester City
The FA Cup Fifth Round Proper
Villa Park
6.30pm, Sunday 19 February 2006, live on BBC
Winning clubs receive £120,000
£265,000 television payment for each club



28 January 2006
Aston Villa 3-1 Port Vale

Watch David O'Leary's team make it through to the Fifth Round thanks to a brace from Czech striker Milan Baros.

28 January 2006
Man City 1-0 Wigan Athletic

A late goal from two-time FA Cup winner Andrew Cole gave Stuart Pearce a place in the Fifth Round.

Aston Villa are one of the sleeping giants of English football, and their fans want to see the club in Europe - the FA Cup could be their best route.

Manchester City are always improving under Stuart Pearce, and what better way to cap his first full season as boss than a good Cup run.

Vital Quote

Villa manager David O’Leary said: "Of course the first thing you look for is a home draw and that’s what we’ve got. It’s different from the previous two rounds because we know all about Manchester City and we know they’re a quality side.

We’ve got through to the last 16 and we want to extend our run in the competition. I’m sure we’ll have a good crowd behind us at Villa Park."

City boss Stuart Pearce said: "On the law of averages, after a couple of home draws, an away draw was probably due. There were certainly harder teams in the round, and certainly easier teams. We would liked to have been at home, but it could have been worse.

"It will be a tough game, Villa are a good side especially at home. It’s The FA Cup, it will be exciting and everyone at the club should be looking forward to it."


Team News
Steven Davis, Lee Hendrie, Craig Gardner and Jlloyd Samuel all picked up knocks in last weekend’s league defeat to Newcastle, but boss David O’Leary hopes to bring James Milner and Gavin McCann back into the Villa squad.

City’s top scorer Andy Cole will be out for the next month with a knee ligament injury sustained in the league win against Charlton. Trevor Sinclair also sustained a facial injury in that match, and may have to play in a mask.

Players to watch

Aston Villa - Luke Moore has been in fine goalscoring form for Villa, even hitting a hat-trick in the recent 4-0 win over Middlesbrough.

Manchester City - Former Villa favourite Darius Vassell will be making his first return to Villa Park since leaving the club in the summer, but he bagged a brace when the two teams met in the league at Eastlands this season.

Match Facts and Statistics

Aston Villa were runners-up when The FA Cup Final was last played at Wembley in 2000, losing 1-0 to Chelsea. Aston Villa have not beaten Manchester City since August 2002. Aston Villa are yet to face Premiership opposition in this season’s cup competitions. Manchester City have been knocked out at the fifth round stage three times in the last five years.

Ref Watch Graham Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire). Took charge of the 3-3 third round replay thriller between Leeds and Wigan at Elland Road which was decided on a penalty shoot-out.