Mark Lawrenson, BBC
Pick: 1:2
Sir Alex Ferguson likes to pick three central midfield players for big matches, usually selecting Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher. This makes United very difficult to play against. I feel they will dominate that area of the pitch and so create the greater number of chances. Villa's four across midfield is usually made up of Stewart Downing, Stiliyan Petrov, James Milner and Ashley Young who are all very good on the ball. But they are not so good at getting it back and that means they could struggle to compete.
Simon Cambers, ESPN
Pick: 1
The Carling Cup final is Man United's bid for the first silverware of the season. Bet365 make them 1.83 to win it and of course, the way that Wayne Rooney is playing at the moment means that they are fully deserving of favouritism. However, Villa like playing United, their counter-attacking style works well because United will enjoy most of the possession, and if they are on their game, then they will have their chances; it's just a question of if they can take them.
Pick: 1:2
Sir Alex Ferguson likes to pick three central midfield players for big matches, usually selecting Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher. This makes United very difficult to play against. I feel they will dominate that area of the pitch and so create the greater number of chances. Villa's four across midfield is usually made up of Stewart Downing, Stiliyan Petrov, James Milner and Ashley Young who are all very good on the ball. But they are not so good at getting it back and that means they could struggle to compete.
Simon Cambers, ESPN
Pick: 1
The Carling Cup final is Man United's bid for the first silverware of the season. Bet365 make them 1.83 to win it and of course, the way that Wayne Rooney is playing at the moment means that they are fully deserving of favouritism. However, Villa like playing United, their counter-attacking style works well because United will enjoy most of the possession, and if they are on their game, then they will have their chances; it's just a question of if they can take them.
Form guide
| Aston Villa | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 24.02 | FA CUP | Aston Villa - C. Palace | 3:1 (1:0) |
| 21.02 | ENG PREM | Aston Villa - Burnley | 5:2 (1:1) |
| 14.02 | FA CUP | C. Palace - Aston Villa | 2:2 (1:1) |
| 10.02 | ENG PREM | Aston Villa - Man Utd | 1:1 (1:1) |
| 06.02 | ENG PREM | Tottenham - Aston Villa | 0:0 (0:0) |
| Man Utd | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 23.02 | ENG PREM | Man Utd - West Ham | 3:0 (1:0) |
| 20.02 | ENG PREM | Everton - Man Utd | 3:1 (1:1) |
| 16.02 | CL | AC Milan - Man Utd | 2:3 (1:1) |
| 10.02 | ENG PREM | Aston Villa - Man Utd | 1:1 (1:1) |
| 06.02 | ENG PREM | Man Utd - Portsmouth | 5:0 (2:0) |
| This season head to head stats | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.02 | ENG PREM | Aston Villa - Man Utd | 1:1 (1:1) |
| 12.12 | ENG PREM | Man Utd - Aston Villa | 0:1 (0:1) |
Team news
Aston Villa
- Injured: Harewood, Reo-Coker
Man United
- Suspended: Nani
- Injured: Anderson, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Giggs, O'Shea
Match facts
- Aston Villa's 1-0 win at Old Trafford in December was their first victory against United in 25 matches (in all competitions).
- Villa are unbeaten in 12 games (all competitions) since losing 1-0 to Liverpool on 29 December.
- Villa have previously lifted the trophy five times, second only to Liverpool (seven times winners), but they are looking to end a 14-year trophy drought.
- The Red Devils will be taking part in their eighth final - they have won three (1992, 2006 and 2009) and lost four (1983, 1991, 1994 & 2003) of the previous seven.
- Sir Alex Ferguson is pursuing the 32nd major trophy of his career. He is already the most decorated manger in English and Scottish history.
- The in-form United striker Wayne Rooney is enjoying the most prolific season of his career - he took his tally to 27 goals in midweek.
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