Aston Villa

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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to BBC MOTD on whether today's draw was a missed opportunity: "The match we deserved to win, when it was 11v11 it was very difficult. They were being man to man and being very aggressive. We had some very good chances for Ollie Watkins and we needed to be clinical.

"In 90 minutes we were being positive and when they had the sending off, we really were dominating. We conceded one easy goal and to come back with the result it was difficult but we had the chances to do it, we had the chances to win but at the end they defend very well and they deserve the draw.

"The competed very well but we expected it. We tried and we played the second half dominating, we scored only one goal and it was not enough. We deserved more but they competed very well."

On Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio: "Good impact and keep going now, try to fit in as best as possible. We are playing against Liverpool here. We lost some opportunities but of course we have to be consistent and hope we can react."

On Boubacar Kamara's injury: "It's bad but I don't know now."

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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Saturday's visit of Ipswich Town was the first in a run of five matches in just 14 days for Aston Villa, whose manager Unai Emery voiced his frustration at the hectic schedule in his matchday programme notes.

Axel Tuanzebe's 40th-minute red card should have ensured a reasonably comfortable afternoon for the home side, who have not lost at Villa Park since Crystal Palace beat them in the Carabao Cup in late October.

But they were given an almighty scare when Liam Delap put Ipswich ahead with a deft flick from Omari Hutchinson's cross early in the second half, stunning the home supporters into near-silence.

Amid growing exasperation among the Villa fans, it was Ollie Watkins who hauled them back into the contest, firing home after the lively Marcus Rashford rattled the crossbar from a free-kick.

The hosts were denied victory by a fantastic stoppage-time Alex Palmer save from Conor Townsend's inadvertent flick towards goal, but they did not do enough to merit all three points against their battling opponents.

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Aston Villa have now gained 14 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, the fourth-most of any side.

While Ipswich Town have dropped 19 points from winning positions, with only Southampton (20) and Tottenham Hotspur (21) having dropped more.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Aston Villa's performance

What did you make of Ipswich's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Leicester City v Arsenal (12:30)

• Aston Villa v Ipswich Town

• Fulham v Nottingham Forest

• Man City v Newcastle - BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

• Southampton v Bournemouth

• West Ham v Brentford

• Crystal Palace v Everton (17:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here.

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna made 11 changes for their FA Cup tie against Coventry, so what does he do here to try to stop his side's four-game losing run in the league?

Last time the Tractor Boys were in the Midlands, they demolished the Sky Blues, but this is obviously a much tougher test.

Aston Villa also got through in the FA Cup, beating Tottenham, but they have gone three games without a win in the league - drawing with Arsenal and West Ham, and losing to Wolves.

All three of those results came after midweek matches, however, and not being in the Champions League play-off round this week is a big boost for Villa.

Unai Emery's side are short of centre-backs, with Ezri Konsa the latest to be injured when he was forced off against Spurs, but they do have new loan signing Axel Disasi to come into their defence.

I think Ipswich will score, but Villa are going to score more.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Ipswich Town (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley remain out but Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins have trained on Friday morning and are therefore in the squad.

• On the club's new forwards: "They are very good players. I am very excited - they are working very well. I think the first match we played together last week against Tottenham at home, at Villa Park with our supporters, was a very exciting moment."

• On the requirement to play midweek against Liverpool: "We were planning three weeks of full training but we are going to have only two. We have to accept it. It's a key moment for us. Hopefully, we can get our best performances individually and collectively."

• On the balance of his squad: "Each match is an opportunity where we can see if we are getting stronger or not and if we are closer to our objective."

• Emery said the "next challenge" for the next three-and-a-half months is playing in different competitions. "They're very exciting ones we have: FA Cup, Champions League and the Premier League. The main objective we have through the Premier League is whether we will be in Europe or not next season."

• On Saturday's match against Ipswich: "A very good opportunity for the team, for the players and for the supporters. It's about how we can face a Premier League match with the players we have and with the idea and style we want to try."

• He is not underestimating their opponents: "They are performing really well. I appreciate how they are playing and competing. The coach is having a good impact tactically and then on the players they have with Liam Delap playing and performing very well. Of course, they are at the bottom in the league but that's because after their promotion into the Premier League it has been demanding. It's going to be a difficult match and we respect them a lot."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Marcus Rashford "would be an addition to any team in the league", says Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna.

McKenna previously worked with Rashford during his time coaching at Manchester United and is anticipating facing the 27-year-old when Town travel to Villa Park on Saturday.

"We know what a threat he is," McKenna said. "I think football careers are tough, and especially when you start as young as Marcus did and you break in at at 18. If you play until your mid-thirties or beyond, then it's not all going to be smooth sailing. It very rarely is.

"It's always easy to look at the negative aspect and you could certainly flip that on the head and say that he's a young player, he's come through the academy, from Wythenshawe and played for his boyhood club. He's won trophies and broken records and done some incredible things.

"His life is football. Things don't always go in a in a smooth direction. He's still young enough and he's still talented enough, so I'm sure he'll be working hard to play again regularly and and hit really good form."

Following Jhon Duran's move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, Rashford will now provide competition for striker Ollie Watkins.

"They've got a really deep, high quality forward unit where they can make really impactful subs," McKenna added.

"You're going to face a really strong front four at the start of the game, and there's every chance you're going to face a really strong, different front four at the end of the game. We've had to be thorough in our preparation."

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BBC Sport pundit and former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has been answering your questions on your club.

Thomas asked: Who do you think should start up front for Aston Villa? Donyell Malen, Marcus Rashford or Ollie Watkins?

Nedum replied: If they are all fit and available, then as a number nine I would pick Watkins. He is still number one after all of his successes in recent years, but after him it is about trusting in Unai Emery as he is a very creative manager.

I watched Malen against Tottenham and I thought he also did a good job in that role. The way he linked up with Morgan Rogers, Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey was really sharp.

I'm not sure Rashford would be pining to be played as a lone striker because some of his better traits are suited to a wider position. So he would be my third choice for that position.

But Emery will have his own ideas and it wouldn't surprise me if he finds a way to get them all into the team at some point because they are really intelligent, dynamic players.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

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Aston Villa have lost just one of their past 14 top-flight meetings with Ipswich (W10 D3), a 1-0 home defeat in March 1994.

Excluding own goals, 95% of Ipswich's 21 Premier League goals this season have been scored by British or Irish players, the highest proportion by a team in a campaign since Wolves in 2011-12 (98% - 39/40).

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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With the possible exception of the groundstaff, Theo Walcott did everyone at Aston Villa a favour on Monday night, pulling out the relevant ball to give Villa a home draw in the FA Cup for the third round in a row.

Villa Park is going to be very well used in the next couple of weeks, with successive League games against Ipswich, Liverpool and Chelsea, and now an eminently winnable tie against Cardiff City.

All those games, and a visit to Crystal Palace, come before their Champions League last-16 matches, so Villa's domestic season may have taken a decisive course by then.

For anyone uncomfortable with the idea of the FA Cup being a poor third priority for their club, behind the Premier and Champions Leagues, there was encouragement in Unai Emery's team selection to play Tottenham, just about the strongest available to him.

BBC Radio WM's Villa analyst, Garry Thompson, spoke up for the cup before the game. "There's only so many competitions you can actually win. Look at Villa's situation now. We can maybe win the FA Cup; I doubt we're going to win the Champions League; I doubt we're going to win the Premier League title. Therefore, there's only one other thing to go for. So you should go strong, and try to win it. Fans want memories. They want their teams to win cups, and play in finals. You've got to give them what they want."

• Not a Villa fan? Find and follow your club here

Always respectful of football's heritage, Emery sounded as if he wanted the same thing. He speaks more reverently of the FA Cup than some of his peers.

"I watched some matches, Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester City… wow, so difficult always here in FA Cup to win. And when you are playing away… wow." (Emery has taken to saying "wow" quite a lot lately, in a hushed tone, about things that clearly fascinate him about the game. That sense of wonder is refreshing in these times.)

"Of course, we've played two matches at home. We felt comfortable, we felt strong against West Ham and Tottenham. OK, we have to always get balance, but [we're] happy, and now we are in the next round, of course we are going to focus."

Third priority? Perhaps. But Unai Emery knows what it feels like to win trophies, and knows what it does for a club's honour and pride. You can be sure he also knows that winning the Cup brings a place in Europe, too.

What do you think? How important is the FA Cup for Villa?

Let us know

Listen to full commentary of Aston Villa v Ipswich from 15:00 GMT on Saturday on BBC Radio WM 95.6 FM

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Aston Villa and Arsenal have expressed an interest in signing Olympiakos' 17-year-old forward Charalampos Kostoulas and 18-year-old midfielder Christos Mouzakitis. (Birmingham World), external

Meanwhile, Villa and Paris St-Germain did not include a buy option in 29-year-old midfielder Marco Asensio's loan deal, but both clubs are open to a potential permanent move in the summer. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

David Michael
Fan writer

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Unai Emery played the equivalent of a wildcard in fantasy football during the January transfer window.

Five additions and even more outgoings were made to shake up and re-energise a Villa team that still had much to play for but increasingly seemed unlikely to meet their expectations in the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.

Villa supporters have learned over the years - from Didier Six to Philippe Coutinho - how the short-term hype of big-name stars can quickly fizzle out.

However, the key difference here is that key additions Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford only need to shine for four months to provide Villa with a good chance of success.

Villa already play in a way that suits both players and, despite the short timeframe, there is also an opportunity for them to etch their names into Villa folklore, with the club now in the last 16 of both the Champions League and FA Cup.

Emery's focus on the latter will only sharpen with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea already eliminated, making Villa the fourth favourites to lift the trophy.

The biggest question mark in this wildcard transformation was whether Villa could instantly replace the X-factor lost with Jhon Duran's untimely departure. The 21-year-old had ultimately carried Villa into the Champions League last 16 with his outrageous goals and provided fans with at least some hope that they could make an indent on the knockout rounds.

However, after witnessing Asensio and Rashford's impact in their first 30 minutes with the club against Tottenham in the FA Cup, it became clear that Villa had replaced Duran's youthful exuberance with two top-level operators capable of unlocking another level to this Villa team.

Emery had struggled to execute this evolution in the first half of the season, but now this transfer window reshuffle could generate bigger headlines than the tedious daily Rashford and Manchester United soap opera that has threatened to overshadow what it could mean for Villa.

Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external

The draw for the FA Cup fifth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties involving Premier League teams in the order they were drawn.

Games will be played over the first weekend of March.

• Aston Villa v Cardiff City

• Crystal Palace/Doncaster v Millwall

• Man Utd v Fulham

• Newcastle v Brighton

• Bournemouth v Wolves

• Man City v Plymouth

• Exeter/Nottingham Forest v Ipswich

See the full draw

Is there something you want to ask about a Premier League club?

Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha is ready to answer your burning questions and give his thoughts on some of the biggest talking points for a special Q&A.

Submit your questions here and come back on Thursday for his answers

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Aston Villa have signed Yasin Ozcan from Super Lig side Kasimpasa on a pre-contract agreement.

The 18-year-old will spend the rest of this season with the Turkish club before joining Unai Emery's side in the summer.

Ozcan, who is a left-footed defender, has already been capped by Turkey Under-21s.

We asked for your views on Aston Villa's FA Cup victory against Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Aston Villa fans

Gary: At times, Villa's play going forward was absolutely fantastic. Rashford looked so hungry when he came on, and Asensio showed true class. The starting 11 all played so well. Just wish we could get through a game without an injury or letting one in. Scoreline flattered Spurs.

Mike: A lot was made of Tottenham's injuries both prior to, and post this game, yet Villa only had one recognised centre-back (Konsa) who eventually got injured himself. We absolutely dismantled Tottenham and with a more clinical display with chances taken we would have stuffed them, but I'll take the win regardless. UTV

Ian: Outstanding performance from the Villa but should have killed the game off much sooner and should have scored two or three more goals with the chances we created. Some very good individual performance's but overall an excellent team performance. The only downside was Konsa's injury. Rashford and Asensio looked sharp when they came on. If we can get our injured players fit there are exciting times ahead. Keep the faith. UTV.

Tottenham fans

Steve: If I didn't know better, I would suggest the players have no faith In Ange any more and believe the way to get him out is to play poorly. That was an awful display from a team that doesn't care. Levy needs to apologise to the fans.

Keef: We were awful again and the whole team lacks confidence and belief. Played well in patches in the second half and not sure why we couldn't start the game with the same energy and determination. On another day Son scores the first against Martinez and shoots for the second rather than passing, so he's also lacking confidence too. Not sure where we go from here.

Dan: First half was like Thursday 2.0. Glad that the second half was a different edge. Nice to see Tel get off the mark. And equally great that Kinsky more than made up for his early blunder. Just need to get that morale and confidence back up to a decent level throughout the team and maybe, just maybe, we can make a positive challenge in the Europa League. Will take 16th and at least a final in the Europa.

Aston Villa and Manchester United were both ready to offer 70m euros (£58.3m) for Barcelona's Fermin Lopez in January, but the 21-year-old forward was not interested in a move. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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