Carabao Cup: Aston Villa vs. Stoke City
Another cup tie, another chance to give the second team a run-out. Normally, I’d be annoyed with the congestion, but since we actually have a second unit, I’m less bothered.

Another cup tie, another chance to give the second team a run-out. Normally, I’d be annoyed with the congestion, but since we actually have a second unit, I’m less bothered.
Aston Villa are off to a flying start, winning our first two fixtures in the new campaign after dispatching Fulham 0-3 on Monday night. Hard to believe, but it’s only the third time in the club’s history that we’ve won the first two matches to start a season. It was also Villa’s first away clean sheet in 27. Again, hard to believe.
And we’re back in action at an empty Craven Cottage in a just a few minutes. Three points, please.
Fresh off Villa’s opening win Monday, we’re right back to the League, er Carabao, Cup, traveling to Ashton Gate to take on Bristol City, who sit second in the Championship having won their first two.
It looked like it was shaping up to be a night of frustration for Villa in their season opener, but Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa managed to combine off a corner to break through Sheffield’s defense and seal all three points for the home side. Oh, and some guy named Martinez saved a penalty.