FA Cup is a welcome distraction for Villa

Having stopped the rot in what was looking to be a horrendous run of form, can Aston Villa use their FA Cup tie against Ipswich to build some momentum?

Paul Lambert left the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday with his side having earned their first point in four games, yet he still had a right to feel bitterly disappointed. Villa looked as if they were about to secure an unlikely win against Swansea after Christian Benteke’s late penalty, but Danny Graham struck in injury time to deny them a much-needed three points. As well as being their first positive result in four matches, this was the first time the Villains had scored since their impressive win at Anfield in mid-December. What had first been addressed as a one-off soon became a sign of a much more serious problem, with an 8-0 thrashing by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge followed by 4-0 and 3-0 home defeats by Tottenham and Wigan respectively.

Had it not been for their draw at Swansea, Villa would currently be in 18^th place. The three consecutive hammerings on the bounce means they currently hold the worst goal difference in the league, with relegation a real worry on fans’ minds at this moment in time. Luckily though, there are no points to be won (or lost) this weekend, as the third round ties of the FA Cup take place.

Villa host Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich, who have enjoyed a change in fortunes since the former Wolves boss took over at Portman Road. Having only one won league game this season when he arrived, McCarthy has steered the Tractor Boys to a further seven victories that have helped to lift them off the foot of the table.  Ipswich were cast adrift and six points from safety but they now sit in 19^th place in the Championship but their resurgence means they are now almost six points from the drop zone.

Villa will hope to produce a fightback of their own with the return of several key players, but first they will want to get their name in the hat for the fourth round of the FA Cup.

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