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

Here's the numbers:

1. Wolverhampton Wanderers

2. Southampton

3. Aston Villa

4. Port Vale

5. Wigan Athletic

6. Ipswich Town

7. Wrexham

8. Chelsea

9. Manchester City

10. West Ham United

11. Brentford

12. Fulham

13. Sunderland

14. Liverpool or Barnsley

15. Burnley

16. Norwich City

17. Arsenal

18. Leeds United

19. West Bromwich Albion

20. Salford City or Swindon Town

21. Burton Albion

22. Grimsby Town

23. Hull City

24. Newcastle United

25. Oxford United

26. Leicester City

27. Birmingham City

28. Bristol City

29. Stoke City

30. Macclesfield

31. Brighton & Hove Albion

32. Mansfield Town