Bournemouth host Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup fourth round

Recent meetings favour Aston Villa

Villa are unbeaten in their last seven matches against Bournemouth, with four wins and three draws. That record belongs to league meetings, however, because the clubs have not previously faced each other in the League Cup.

This is their first League Cup meeting, not their first cup match. Aston Villa beat Bournemouth 2:1 in the FA Cup on 25 January 2015.

The 2015 tie was level at half-time. Carles Gil put Villa ahead in the 51st minute, Andreas Weimann doubled the lead in the 71st, and Callum Wilson scored Bournemouth’s goal in added time.

Both teams advanced with individual scoring performances

Ryan Christie scored three goals against Lincoln City in the previous round. Tammy Abraham scored twice against Coventry City. The clubs have not confirmed that either player will start at the Vitality Stadium.

Christie opened the scoring in the seventh minute and added two more goals after the break. Rayan completed Bournemouth’s 4:0 win in added time.

Abraham scored in the seventh and 59th minutes of Villa’s 3:1 win at Coventry. Ross Barkley scored Villa’s other goal, while Victor Torp converted a free kick for Coventry.

One knockout match will decide who advances

Kick-off is at 19:45 GMT. There is no second leg, and a level score after 90 minutes would be followed by a penalty shoot-out.

The fourth round leaves both managers with a direct choice: use their strongest available attack from the start or keep an experienced option on the bench for the second half. The team sheets will show that decision shortly before kick-off.

Bournemouth are chasing another home cup win, while Aston Villa are trying to extend their seven-match unbeaten run against the hosts.