Balls!

Of course, we all know that Manchester City will be drawn at home against the lowest-ranking team in the competition... but is the FA Cup draw really as biased against Villa as many of us think?

Villa have reached the FA Cup fourth round on 65 occasions. The draw has handed them 32 home ties and 33 away ties. All very neat.

Since last winning 🏆 the FA Cup in 1957, Villa have reached the FA Cup fourth round on 40 occasions. Over that time, the FA Cup draw has handed Villa: 20 Top-flight opponents,

10 home games and 10 away games apiece,

14 Second Tier opponents,

7 home games and 7 away games apiece, lovely symmetry,

5 Third Tier opponents,

4 home draws and 1 away draw, FIX!

1 Fourth Tier opponent,

away to Peterborough United in 1960-61.

Of those 40 ties, Villa have only lost 13, never losing to the eventual winners of the competition.

Villa have only once lost to an eventual finalist, in 1987-88, to Liverpool, who would go on to be beaten by Wimbledon in that season's final. Wimbledon are one of eleven clubs to have been drawn against Villa more than once across those 40 ties

1. Manchester City (2015-16, 1994-95)

2. Arsenal (2011-12, 1973-74)

3. Liverpool (1987-88, 1966-67)

4. Southampton (1999-00, 1968-69)

5. Bristol City (1981-82, 1962-63)

6. Sheffield United (1974-75, 1964-65)

7. Port Vale (2005-06, 1989-90)

8. Millwall (2012-13, 1985-86)

9. Derby County (1996-97, 1992-93), and

10. Wimbledon (1992-93, 1988-89)

However, only one club has been drawn against Villa more than twice since 1957:

• Chelsea (2023-24, 1959-60, 1958-59)

  
  

All three of those ties being drawn away from home. Of current Premier League clubs still in this year's FA Cup, Villa have not been drawn against Brentford (1952-53) or Sunderland (1933-34) since before our last win. And Villa have never faced Newcastle United, Leeds United or Burnley in the FA Cup 4th Round.

So it's a 50/50 it'll be a top-flight opponent, 50/50 it'll be away, and more likely than not Chelsea away.

Oh and the Scouse Goon is doing the draw.

And no, after their home defeat to Brighton, Villa have still never faced Manchester United in the 4th Round of the FA Cup.

The FA Cup fourth round proper draw will be made on Monday 12 January 2026

League Spread:

1X National League North 2X League Two

4X League One

11X Championship

14X Premier League

Here's the numbers:

1. Wolverhampton Wanderers PREMIER LEAGUE

2. Southampton CHAMPIONSHIP

3. Aston Villa

4. Port Vale LEAGUE ONE

5. Wigan Athletic LEAGUE ONE

6. Ipswich Town CHAMPIONSHIP

7. Wrexham CHAMPIONSHIP

8. Chelsea PREMIER LEAGUE

9. Manchester City PREMIER LEAGUE

10. West Ham United PREMIER LEAGUE

11. Brentford PREMIER LEAGUE

12. Fulham PREMIER LEAGUE

13. Sunderland PREMIER LEAGUE

14. Liverpool or Barnsley PREMIER LEAGUE

15. Burnley PREMIER LEAGUE

16. Norwich City CHAMPIONSHIP

17. Arsenal PREMIER LEAGUE

18. Leeds United PREMIER LEAGUE

19. West Bromwich Albion CHAMPIONSHIP

20. Salford City or Swindon Town LEAGUE TWO

21. Burton Albion LEAGUE ONE

22. Grimsby Town LEAGUE TWO

23. Hull City CHAMPIONSHIP

24. Newcastle United PREMIER LEAGUE

25. Oxford United CHAMPIONSHIP

26. Leicester City CHAMPIONSHIP

27. Birmingham City CHAMPIONSHIP

28. Bristol City CHAMPIONSHIP

29. Stoke City CHAMPIONSHIP

30. Macclesfield NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH

31. Brighton & Hove Albion PREMIER LEAGUE

32. Mansfield Town LEAGUE ONE