Pete: Chelsea signed so many big name players last couple seasons, yet their line up is one of the weakest in the league. That defence is so poor!

Daniel: Pochettino is the least of Chelsea's worries. £1bn spent on players who've largely flopped, likely can't be sold at a profit (if at all), with long term contracts hanging like an albatross round the club's finances and future transfer plans. If Rangnick's view on United was that they needed open heart surgery, what's the diagnosis for Chelsea?

Almost an early lead for Forest!

Morgan Gibbs-White goes close but is thwarted by Max O'Leary's save.

Shay Given
Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper on the Football Daily podcast

Aston Villa slipped up around Christmas time.

They drew against Sheffield United and then went to Old Trafford and were 2-0 up and lost 3-2. When you add them points to the league table now, they are sitting joint top with Liverpool.

They have got European competition coming up and Unai Emery wants to go all the way. He wants to win every cup he is involved in so will that play a part in their Premier League form and getting into the Champions League? We'll have to wait and see.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to ITV: "We were successful for a long time in Villa Park and we want to continue to do that.

"We are going to adapt today for Chelsea. They press very well. They lost their last two matches and I think they have a very good coach and very good players.

"I think it is going to be a very tough match."

Image source, Getty Images

Forest are dominating the early exchanges and have already caused a scare with the ball flashing across the six yard box.

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Pochettino has been reasonably successful and has had a little bit of a bad patch and then he gets labelled as all sorts.

The players seem to get away free and I think they just need to take responsibility.

Under way at the City Ground.

Red and white scarves all around the ground.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Villa Park

Mauricio Pochettino was talking up the support he has received from Chelsea’s owners since Sunday’s 4-2 home loss to Wolves turned up the pressure even further on the struggling manager.

The best way to actually do that is by getting results and Chelsea will need to play several levels above their dismal performance at Stamford Bridge to get anything against an Aston Villa side that is so formidable at home in this FA Cup fourth round replay.

Chilly night at Villa Park but conditions look perfect.

Adam Crafton
Reporter for The Athletic, speaking on the Football Daily podcast

Chelsea have barely been in the top half this season. We don't just underestimate Wolves, we overestimate Chelsea. The league table is set now on a body of pretty substantial evidence. You are where you are because that's kind of your level.

And it's not just this season. This is where they have been for a year and a half, or so. I think the club as a whole has to work on its relationship with its supporters. That is a group of players that needs nurturing and support more than it gets at the moment.

Nottingham Forest

Decent backing for Bristol City at the City Ground. Forest have reached the fifth round only once in the previous nine attempts.

Kick-off is fast approaching.

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino on ITV: "Now we have to win every game. I understand all the situation but today is a different competition. Against a very good team.

"We are in the final of the Carabao Cup but now we need to accept that too many [bad] things happen and we need to be calm and compete today.

"It will be tough but we are convinced we can compete today."

Chelsea

Mauricio Pochettino does not look impressed as he is asked by ITV why Thiago Silva is not starting. Silva is starting on the bench. His wife has apologised after appearing to criticise the Chelsea manager and calling for changes at the club.

David Michael
My Old Man Said podcast

Image source, Reuters

If Aston Villa have been playing within themselves in the past few weeks, bigger tests are to come in the next few days.

Taking care of business against Chelsea in the FA Cup replay to set up a home tie against Leeds in the fifth round, then getting revenge against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, could really put Villa back on track.

They will undoubtedly be looking to replicate the blueprint they laid down in their mesmerising performance at home against Manchester City back in December.

With Pau Torres on his way back in the next week or two, the season could be poised for a grandstand finish, rich in opportunities.

Nottingham Forest

Nuno Espirito Santo is refusing to look beyond Nottingham Forest's replay against Bristol City, with a bumper home tie against Manchester United awaiting the winners.

Forest were held 0-0 at Ashton Gate by Championship opponents and Nuno is taking nothing for granted in a competition he holds in high regard.

When asked about fans' excitement at the prospect of facing Manchester United, Nuno said: "Now we are focused on Bristol and it means a lot to us. Since the beginning I always considered the FA Cup a fantastic chance to fight for a trophy.

"This is what is in our minds. It's the second leg of a competition we want to go through and we're going to face a difficult team, who in the first leg were tough. But we're going to try and solve it at the City Ground."

So much noise around Chelsea after a season of setbacks and defeats. As pressure mounts on Mauricio Pochettino, is the project over, or can the Argentine still revive his chances of succeeding at Chelsea?

Image source, Reuters

So here we are, ready to watch Nottingham Forest and Bristol City, and Aston Villa and Chelsea battle it out in the FA Cup for the second time this term.

Cup replays, for the smaller clubs in the competition, provide a chance at further TV money as well as the opportunity to either play at a big stadium or host a giant of English football.

For Aston Villa, Chelsea, Forest and Bristol City, a midweek cup replay is another fixture in a busy schedule.

So, given the pros and cons, are FA Cup replays a good idea? Get involved via the means above and let us know.

Image source, PA Media

Bristol City's Matty James says they have nothing to lose against Nottingham Forest. The Championship club are chasing a second Premier League scalp in this season's FA Cup after knocking out West Ham in a third round replay.

"The confidence we've had from three games in the cup, we'll be there and we've got nothing to lose," said James, a former Manchester United youth player, who starts on the bench tonight.

"I think we've conducted ourselves in the cup very well and we have taken a lot of confidence from that. We've just got to go there and do the exact same thing as we have been doing. We're excited about it and hope we can get a result."

Rob Green
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

It is a huge couple of weeks for Aston Villa. They have some huge games coming up. This is a great time to be a Villa fan.

They have had a bit of a sticky patch but now they are through it. They will be looking at the way they performed against Sheffield United, and the way Chelsea are, and thinking if they perform in the same way they can perform very well.