Preview: Bristol City v Aston Villa

ASTON VILLA
After a miserable season in the Premier League last term, Aston Villa are adapting slowly to life in the Sky Bet Championship. The Midlands club suffered an opening day defeat against Sheffield Wednesday before hammering Rotherham at Villa Park. Two draws have followed since and Robert Di Matteo’s side sit in mid-table. Ross McCormack has scored just once since moving from Fulham, while top scorer Rudy Gestede is ruled out of tomorrow’s clash with a hamstring injury. Aaron Tshibola (groin) and Joe Bennett (calf) will also miss out. Richie De Laet is available after his move from Leicester City as is Mile Jedinak who received international clearance yesterday.

MANAGER
Roberto Di Matteo - Switzerland-born Italy international who began his career with Schaffhausen. After spells with Zurich and Aarau, Di Matteo joined Lazio on a free transfer and made 87 appearances, scoring seven goals before a £4.9m move to Chelsea. He enjoyed a successful six years with the London club, winning two FA Cups, the League Cup, the Charity Shield, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. Di Matteo retired in 2002 and took over MK Dons in 2008. He managed them for a year before joining West Brom following their relegation to the Championship. He won promotion back to the top flight in his first season but was sacked in 2011. He went to Chelsea as assistant coach Andre Villas-Boas and took over as caretaker when the Portuguese received his marching orders, and went on to win the Champions League. After leaving Chelsea he took two years out of the game before a season at Schalke and took the Villa job in the summer.

OFFICIALS
James Linington is the man in the middle. He will be assisted by Neil Davies and Steven Meredith. Robert Massey-Ellis is the fourth official. 

TICKETS
All available tickets are sold out.

LAST TIME OUT
Bristol City 0-1 Aston Villa (1982) - City’s tenth cup match of the season proved to be their last as Villa ran out 1-0 winners at Ashton Gate. Roy Hodgson had his team playing neat football against opponents two leagues higher but without a ruthless streak in front of goal. The tie remained in the balance until the 78th minute when Gary Shaw’s deflected effort beat the unfortunate Jan Moller.

City: Moller, Stevens, Williams, Aitken, Boyle, Sweeney, Tainton, Mann, Garland (Chandler), Harford, Musker.

Villa: Rimmer, Swain, Gibson, Evans, Williams, Mortimer, Blair, Shaw, Withe, Cowans, Morley.

LAST SEASON
Premier League: 20th 
Emirates FA Cup: Fourth round (lost to Manchester City)
EFL Cup: Fourth round (lost to Southampton)

DID YOU KNOW?
Villa currently hold the record number of league goals scored by any team in the English top flight - 128 goals were scored in the 1930-31 season.