Cardiff City face injury problems and even more vital league games – but the romance of the cup lingers
CARDIFF City travel to Villa Park tonight (8pm) looking for a miracle in the Midlands and a first FA Cup quarter-final place in 17 years.
The high-profile game, which is live on ITV, follows a huge result for the Bluebirds, who beat Hull 1-0 in a Championship relegation six-pointer on Tuesday.
But Bluebirds boss Omer Riza has to balance the players’ and fans’ desire for a cup giant-killing with the realities of a relegation battle with promotion-chasing Burnley due at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday.
The league game appears to be taking precedence as Riza admits he’s going into the fifth-round tie feeling frustrated.
“It’s a proud moment and it’s another achievement, I just wish we could approach it in another way,” he said.
“I’d like to put my strongest team out to have a real go at it, but we have just got too many far more important games coming up.
“We’ve got (under) 18s, (under) 21s and the first team available for this fixture.
“It’s a massive moment for whoever gets the opportunity. Is it too much? Potentially. But if you don’t get exposed to it you never know.
“We’re definitely not rolling over and saying ‘take the game’ but it’s frustrating that I can’t go fully for it.
“We have to approach it in a way that we’re not easy to break down and then we have to use the ball diligently.”
For the players who do get chance to shine tonight, the game offers a big stage.
Isaak Davies has returned to the playing squad over the last two games, managing half an hour off the bench against Hull on Tuesday following his first-team return at Plymouth following two years away with loan and injuries.
“We’re going to go there obviously trying to win the game, like every other game,” said Davies.
“Playing the big teams, there’s memories to be made, we’ve got to take it in our stride and enjoy it.”
Team news
Dimitrios Goutas is eligible return to the side after serving a one match ban for his red card against Plymouth last weekend.
However, Joe Ralls pulled his calf prior to last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Plymouth and will likely be out for two-three weeks. On-loan Leicester winger Will Alves took a blow to the knee in the same game, which Riza says is “hopefully short term.”
The pair join Ollie Tanner and Jak Alnwick on the treatment table. David Turnbull and Jesper Daland are back training and working back to match fitness, but tonight’s tie will come too soon for them.
The Villains’ view
Aston Villa are aiming to extend their unbeaten home record to 15 games tonight.
However, they may still be reeling from their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace on Tuesday night and with their own Champions League places chase and injuries to consider, Villa may also opt to reshuffle their pack.
World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was taken off at half time against Palace as a precaution. The injury isn’t thought to be serious but he has been labelled a doubt for the Cardiff clash by manager Unai Emery.
The two sides haven’t met since the 17/18 Championship season in a feisty 1-0 home win for the Villans which featured nine yellow cards and a Jack Grealish winner.
