Preston North End look to claim a giant killing as they host Aston Villa in the Quarter-Finals of 2024-25 FA Cup.
Victory would see Preston reach the semi-finals for the first time since they finished runner-up in 1963-64 edition, whilst Villa seek a first appearance in the last four since the 2014-15 season.
Team News
Milutin Osmajic is set to return for Preston following his recovery from a hip injury, which saw him miss the Lilywhites’ last three matches.
Alistair McCann (muscle), Brad Potts (hamstring) and Jack Whatmough (calf) remain absent.
Kaine Kelser-Hayden is ineligible to face his parent club, whilst Ryan Porteous is cup-tied
Villa could welcome Ollie Watkins back from a knee injury which saw him substituted at half-time in their Champions League win at home to Club Brugge earlier this month.
Ross Barkley remains sidelined with a knee injury.
When is Kick-Off?
Preston host Villa at Deepdale on Sunday 30 March at 1:30pm BST, live on BBC One in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Preston have won three of their six FA Cup ties against Villa (W3, L3), although their second tie needed two replays at this very stage before Villa prevailed 3-2 in March 1897.
- Villa have won one of their four previous FA Cup visits to Preston (W1, D1, L2).
- Milutin Osmajic has scored three of Preston’s five FA Cup goals this season.
- Villa have scored twice in each of their three FA Cup matches this season (W3), during which they kept just one clean sheet.
Prediction
Sat comfortably mid-table in the Championship with a late play-off push looking unlikely, Preston can afford to focus their efforts on extending this cup run but they will need to be absolutely on it defensively but equally clinical up top if want to spring a cupset.
Villa meanwhile are fighting fires on three fronts in this run-in as aside from this winnable FA Cup run, they are also fighting for a top-four league finish plus the Champions League title, but I do think that their best option might just to be to put their eggs in the FA Cup basket in terms of most achievable realistic options.
Preston really should try and make this as tough as possible for Villa if can defend as deeply and well-organised as Cardiff did in the last round, especially as Unai Emery’s Villains have a huge league trip to Brighton to come on Wednesday but I do think that the visitors should have too much quality.
Prediction: Preston 1-2 Aston Villa
