Championship side Middlesbrough host Premier League Aston VIlla at the Riverside Stadium this Saturday in the Third Round of the FA Cup. Both sides are in mixed bouts of form, with a cup tie a welcome sight.
Middlesbrough currently sit 12th in the Championship with 11 wins, three draws and 12 losses in 26 games. Last season in the FA Cup, Middlesbrough only made it to the Third Round, suffering a 5 - 1 loss to Brighton.
In their last five games in all competitions, Middlesbrough have three wins and two losses.
In the Quarter-finals of the League Cup, Middlesbrough took on Port Vale. Jonny Howson, Morgan Rogers and Matt Crooks all scored in the 3 - 0 win for Middlesbrough, where Port Vale could not manage a single shot on target. Back in the Championship, Middlesbrough hosted West Brom. Rogers was on the scoresheet again for Middlesbrough, this time being the only goal of the game in a 1 - 0 win for Middlesbrough.
However, it was Middlesbrough on the wrong side of a 1 - 0 scoreline against Rotherham. Cohen Bramall scored the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute, despite Middlesbrough having four more shots on target and 71% of the possession. Middlesbrough bounced back against Huddersfield. Josh Coburn opened the scoring for Middlesbrough, but Michal Helik equalised within six minutes. However, Howson scored in the 84th minute to give Middlesbrough the 2 - 1 win.
The last time out for Middlesbrough was against Coventry. Coburn scored again, but a brace from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and a goal from Haji Wright gave Coventry the 3 - 1 win.
Aston Villa are flying high in the Premier League, currently sitting second. Villa have 13 wins, three draws and four losses in 20 games and last season in the FA Cup, Villa exited at the Third Round with a shock 2 - 1 loss to Stevenage.
In their last five games in all competitions, Aston Villa have two wins, two draws and one loss.
In the final week of the Europa Conference, Aston Villa travelled to Bosnia and Herzegovina to face Zrinjski. Nicolo Zaniolo opened the scoring for Villa, but a late goal from Matija Malekinusic meant the game finished 1 - 1. Back in the Premier League, both Villa and Brentford had a man sent off, Boubacar Kamara and Ben Mee respectively. Despite Brentford taking the lead through Keane Lewis-Potter, Alex Moreno and Ollie Watkins scored to give Villa the 2 - 1 win.
Next up was a visit from a struggling Sheffield United. Cameron Archer thought he had given Sheffield United the win with his goal in the 87th minute, but a goal from Zaniolo in the 97th minute meant the game finished 1 - 1. John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker gave Villa the 2 - 0 lead, but a brace from Alejandro Garnacho and a goal from Rasmus Hojlund gave Manchester United the 3 - 2 comeback win.
The most recent outing for Aston Villa was against Burnley. Leon Bailey, Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz all scored in the 3 - 2 win over ten-man Burnley who had Sander Berge sent off early in the second half.
Despite no longer being in the same league, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa are a historic fixture. The two sides have met 146 times, with the first meeting coming back in 1902. Aston Villa have the better record in the fixture with 68 wins in comparison to Middlesbrough’s 43 wins, the other 35 games ending in a draw.