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Tonight is not a new experience for Burnley; this will be the fifth time the two sides have met in this competition and back in its inaugural season it was Aston Villa who became the first team to beat us in the League Cup.
That was in the 1960/61 season and in the semi-final. It went to a replay at Old Trafford before we were beaten.
They have the upper hand. They also beat us 3-0 at Villa Park in the 1970/71 season when, incredibly, they were two divisions below us. It was a giant killing and that really does take some believing now.
The 2004/05 season saw another giant killing, but this time the other way round as goals from Graham Branch, Mo Camara and Jean-Louis Valois (what a collection of goalscorers) gave us a 3-1 Turf Moor win.
One year later and they sought, and got, revenge when a Kevin Phillips goal put us out on the third round of the competition.
And so to number 5 - with Villa currently holding a 3-1 lead over us and favourites to make it 4-1.
Things have changed at Villa Park since we were there earlier this year for a Premier League game. Then, Martin O'Neill was in charge but his shock departure, right on the eve of the season has seen former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier take over.
They are currently in tenth place in a very tight Premier League and are unbeaten at home this season in domestic competition, losing only to Rapid Vienna in the Europa League.
They reached this round with a 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers in the last round with the goals coming from Emile Heskey and Ashley Young(2).
Gerard Houllier is expected to name a strong side for tonight's game. He sees the Carling Cup as a real opportunity to get some silverware on the table and he'll remember all too well that this was the competition that brought him his first success at Liverpool.
Whether the side is anything like as strong as the one that played Sunderland on Saturday we'll have to wait and see, but he will now be without Stiliyan Petrov who suffered an injury.
Their line up on Saturday was: Brad Friedel, Stephen Warnock, Richard Dunne, Habib Beye, Jim Collins, Steward Downing, Nigel Reo-Coker, Ashley Young, Stephen Ireland, Stiliyan Petrov, Emile Heskey. Subs: Brad Guzan, Carlos Cuellar, John Carew, Claran Clark, Barry Bannan, Marc Albrighton, Steve Sidwell.
Brian Laws has confirmed there will be changes for tonight's game. Certainly Leon Cort is ruled out and I don't expect Chris Eagles to play. He's carrying an injury and will most likely be rested for Saturday's game at QPR.
I would also expect Lee Grant to play in goal , as he's done in the two previous rounds, but overall, as in the last round, Laws is certain to play a strong side although all of his squad, with the exception of Richard Eckersley who plays in the reserves, will travel.
We'll select from: Lee Grant, Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, David Edgar, Michael Duff, Clarke Carlisle, Andre Bikey, Danny Fox, Brian Easton, Graham Alexander, Jack Cork, Wade Elliott, Dean Marney, Chris Eagles, Chris Iwelumo, Martin Paterson, Jay Rodriguez, Steven Thompson, Ross Wallace.
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The last of our League Cup encounters came five years ago at Villa Park. We'd beaten Carlisle and Barnsley in the previous rounds and now faced Villa for a second successive season with the 3-1 win a year earlier fresh in the minds.
Micah Hyde was ruled out with suspension and there was a late blow when John McGreal failed a late fitness test. Youngster Chris McCann and loan defender Keith Lowe came in as replacements.
A dour first half so little in terms of goalmouth action at either end with Burnley more than holding their own against David O'Leary's side. But up front they had Kevin Phillips and he got one sniff of a chance and we were a goal behind.
It changed in the second half and at times, with James O'Connor in brilliant form, we took the game to Villa and gave them a difficult 45 minutes. There was some outstanding play and when Villa did get forward they found Frank Sinclair at his best at the back.
Danny Karbassiyoon was introduced for his debut and he nearly brought things level with his first touch. He latched onto a cross from Michael Duff and volleyed goalwards only for a deflection to rob him of a goal. It never really ever got any better for him.
There was to be no late equaliser and despite a good showing we were out of the competition although there was one real positive with the performance of the young McCann. He was beginning to look a real prospect in what was just his third first team start.
The teams were;
Aston Villa: Thomas Sorensen, Mark Delaney, Olof Mellberg, Liam Ridgewell, Jlloyd Samuel, James Milner, Gavin McCann, Steve Davis, Gareth Barry, Juan Pablo Angel (Luke Moore 78), Kevin Phillips. Subs not used: Stuart Taylor, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Ulises de la Cruz, Patrik Berger.
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Keith Lowe, Frank Sinclair, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott (Gifton Noel-Williams 74), John Spicer (Danny Karbassiyoon 78), James O'Connor, Chris McCann (Duane Courtney 90), Garreth O'Connor, Ade Akinbiyi. Subs not used: Mark Crossley, Marc Pugh.
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Previous 20 Seasons |
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Season
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Div
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Ven
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Result
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Att
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Scorers
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2004/05
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LC
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h
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3-1
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11,184
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Branch Camara Valois
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2005/06
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LC
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a
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0-1
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26,872
|
.
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2009/10
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PL
|
h
|
1-1
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21,178
|
Caldwell
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|
.
|
.
|
a
|
2-5
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38,709
|
Fletcher Paterson
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