Villa Park Semi-Final!! Preview by Simon Mack

Aston Villa vs Leicester City

Carabao Cup Semi Final 2^nd Leg ( 1^st leg: 1-1)

Tuesday 28^th January 2020 7:45pm

Villa Park

Foxes fans were handed a boost as Manager Brendan Rodgers announced that Jamie Vardy will be part of the match day squad for the 2^nd leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Aston Villa.

The tie was left finely poised after the first encounter at King Power Stadium with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring in the second half to level the tie at a goal a piece. The 1^st leg had been a game of two halves with the foxes going a goal down in a first period that gaffer Rodgers later admitted he had got the tactics wrong in. The addition of Hama Choudhury at half time gave the home side an ascendency in the clash and city could feel a little unlucky not to have bagged a winner.

For this one if Leicester are going to achieve a historic trip to Wembley they are going to have to do it on the road, but that should not daunt Rodgers charges whose away form has been decent of late including an FA cup victory in West London against Brentford, a 3-0 win up at Newcastle and a 2-1 triumph at West Ham all since Christmas. In addition the recent return to form in their 4-1 drubbing of a visiting hammers seemed to show that the foxes are finding their feet once again in terms of substance to the style, and the ‘slump’ in performances that the 1^st leg of this tie found itself nestled within could well be behind them.

For Aston Villa the 1^st leg draw in this semi-final was followed by a home mauling at the hands of a rampant Manchester City but the 6-1 hiding in front of new keeper Pepe Reina was put behind them with a solid draw on their travels at fellow relegation candidates Brighton. Most recently the villans fought back admirably against Nigel Pearson’s resurgent Watford and having gone a goal down late in the 1^st half two second half goals (including a 95^th minute winner from Tyrone Mings) saw villa bag all three points.

Mings was a hugely influential character in the first leg of this tie working admirably to keep the foxes second period attacking waves at bay but the villans will have to go to war in this one still without Wesley Moraes who is out until next season with an ACL injury. Keeper Tom Heaton is also out until next term with a similar affliction whilst fellow stopper Jed Steer’s leg injury will side-line him until the end of February. Forward Keinan Davis nears contention again returning to training having recovered from a thigh problem but Scots midfielder John McGinn is nowhere near fit having suffered a fracture.

Dean Smith’s ‘come from behind’ 4 points in their last 2 outings will have given the villa boss heart but there can be no doubt that if the West Midlands club are going to be Wembley bound both Mings and talisman Jack Grealish will need to put in vintage performances.

For the foxes the fixture workload both during and post the festive season has seen Brendan Rodgers rotate, tinker and adjust his side in an attempt to maintain freshness and momentum as the city season nears its focal point. Leicester City have made no secret of their huge desire to put a trophy back into the cabinet and the Carabao Cup affords what most would accept is the best realistic chance of achieving their goal. With Jamie Vardy back in contention after what looked like a much worse injury than the ultimate outcome his involvement should be a huge boost for both players and supporters that a Wembley berth can be booked. The 1^st leg in this semi-final showdown felt a little more ‘bridesmaid’ than ‘bride’ with both sides looking to be in the tie going into the deciding encounter, and despite Nampalys Mendy joining those on the physio’s table with a knee injury the city squad is largely healthy and available for selection. The superb Praet-Justin-Iheanacho goal that won the game for city in the FA Cup at the weekend proved that the foxes have options and with Rodgers explaining that Vardy’s fitness is more 80% rather than full fitness you would imagine the resurgent Nigerian striker will spearhead the city font line we all hope fires us to Wembley.

The hugely altered first eleven that successfully travelled to London you’d think was selected partly with an eye on this mid-week clash and as such more familiar faces from the formidable season the foxes have posted to date seem almost certain to return to the fray in a match that we all hope will see us heading south with a chance of League Cup glory for the first time in two decades. There are decisions to be made here by Rodgers: Praet was great at the weekend and has put in high quality performances with passes of brilliance but is it him or Perez? You’d think the others almost pick themselves in the midfield with Harvey Barnes in scintillating form of late along with foxes competition top scorer James Maddison they are almost certain to get the nod with Tielemans making up the midfield berths. And one thing’s for sure… Wilfred Ndidi back fully fit and in that defensive midfield berth will give everyone willing Leicester City onto a win a massive boost.

Aston Villa possible line up:

Reina, Konsa, Mings, Hause, Guilbert, Luiz, Nakamba, Targett, Grealish, El Ghazi, Trezeguet

Leicester City possible line up:

Schmeichel, Ricardo, Soyuncu, Evans, Chilwell, Ndidi, Praet, Tielemans, Barnes, Maddison, Iheanacho