Aston Villa v Middlesbrough preview: Championship sides meeting again
Monday 18 September 2017 18:07, UK
Aston Villa will host Middlesbrough for the second time in a week as they meet in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Villa Park on Tuesday night.
The two sides played out a goalless draw a week ago in the Sky Bet Championship in an ill-tempered clash that saw both sides finish with 10 men.
Team news
Aston Villa forward Keinan Davis is expected to be fit to face Middlesbrough despite coming off in the 3-0 win at Barnsley. The 19-year-old came off in the second half on Saturday but boss Steve Bruce confirmed it was just because of cramp.
Gabby Agbonlahor, Micah Richards, Tommy Elphick, Ross McCormack, Ritchie De Laet and Mark Bunn could be available after being left out for the win at Barnsley.
Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Clayton is suspended after reaching five bookings for the season during Saturday's Sky Bet Championship victory over QPR and joins Adama Traore on the sidelines as he serves the second instalment of his three-match ban.
Martin Braithwaite will hope for some involvement after returning to training from the hamstring injury which has kept him out since the opening day of the campaign, but fellow striker Rudy Gestede is still out with a thigh problem.
Opta stats
Aston Villa have won each of their four matches against Middlesbrough in the League Cup, last meeting at this exact stage in October 1994, with Villa winning 1-0 thanks to an Andy Townsend strike.
The Villans have won 11 of their last 14 League Cup games at Villa Park (L3), including their 4-1 victory over Wigan in the last round.
Boro have only reached the fourth round in two of their last 11 seasons, in 2012-13 and 201516, progressing to the quarter-final but eventually losing to Premier League opposition.
Steve Bruce has seen his sides progress in nine of the last 11 home League Cup contests he has overseen, spanning four different teams (Birmingham, Wigan, Sunderland and Hull).
