Crystal Palace are in League Cup action at Villa Park on Wednesday, 30th October (19:45 GMT) – and before kick-off, it’s time to get the lowdown on our latest opponents…
What an extraordinary year it has been for Aston Villa. Under Unai Emery they have become one of the league's standout sides, and are aiming to qualify for European football for the second successive season.
They currently sit in fourth in the Premier League table, level on points with title-contenders Arsenal and just five points off Manchester City.
Their finest nights have come in the Champions League, however, and they sit top of the newly expanded league table, having won three games out of three, including a remarkable victory over Bayern Munich at Villa Park.
Whether they can turn this golden period into silverware remains to be seen, with the League Cup offering a fantastic opportunity to reach Wembley.
Unai Emery recovered from a bruising experience at Arsenal to remind everyone why he is one of the continent’s most highly respected managers, winning the Europa League at Villarreal before transforming Aston Villa from relegation candidates to Champions League contenders.
Mile Jedinak left Palace in 2016 as one of the club’s greatest captains, joining Aston Villa for the final three years of his career and making 80 appearances.
The last meeting between these two was one of Palace's finest performances in the Premier League era, smashing five past Villa including a Jean-Philippe Mateta hat-trick.
The Eagles were beaten in their last trip to Villa Park, conceding a controversial last-minute penalty last September.
Like so many professional football teams, Aston Villa were formed by a cricket side looking for a sport to play during the tempestuous winter months. Their first match came against a local rugby side, with the first-half played under rugby rules and the second under Association Football rules – somehow, Villa kept a clean sheet.
In 1876, Scotsman George Ramsay happened to spot the players training in Aston Park, and, having been asked to make up the numbers, impressed with his close control and skill on the ball. Soon he was made club captain and drew spectators to watch matches.
In 1888, Villa became one of the 12 founding members of the Football League, heading into the competition as the FA Cup holders. By now George Ramsay was manager, thought to be football’s first professional in the role, and he soon embarked on a golden period, winning six league titles and six FA Cups.
