Mar 10

FA confirms dates and times for FA Cup semi-final ties at Wembley

• Chelsea will face Aston Villa on 10 April with 5pm kick-off
• Portsmouth take on Fulham or Tottenham on 11 April from 4pm

The Football Association has confirmed the kick-off times and dates for next month’s FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.

The games had already been set for the weekend of 10-11 April, but the FA has now revealed when the ties will be played.

Chelsea’s encounter with Aston Villa is the first semi-final and will take place on Saturday, 10 April at 5pm.

The weekend’s other tie sees Portsmouth face Tottenham or Fulham – who will replay their quarter-final on 24 March following their goalless draw at Craven Cottage – with that game taking place on Sunday, 11 April at 4pm.

ChelseaAston VillaPortsmouthFulhamTottenham HotspurFA Cupguardian.co.uk

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Jan 15

Squad sheets: Aston Villa v West Ham United

West Ham won 2-1 at home back in November but without a senior striker to call upon and with four points from six games, the chances of a double in tomorrow’s early game are unlikely. Guillermo Franco was injured in training so Freddie Sears may get a first Premier League start since being recalled from Palace while Scott Parker and Mark Noble look to be over hamstring problems. Villa will make at least one change to the side that saw off Blackburn in the Carling Cup as Brad Friedel returns for Brad Guzan. Mark Tallentire

Venue Villa Park Tickets £19-£40 (0800 612 0970) Last season Aston Villa 1 West Ham 1 Referee M Jones

This season’s matches 10 Y36, R1, 3.70 cards per game

sportingbet odds Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham 11-2 Draw 13-5

Aston Villa

Subs from Guzan, Collins, Sidwell, Carew, Delph, Reo-Coker, Beye, Albrighton, Delfouneso

Doubtful None

Injured Davies (shoulder, 20 Jan), Bouma (ankle, 27 Jan)

Suspended None

Form guide LLWWWW

Disciplinary record Y38 R2

Leading scorer Agbonlahor 8

West Ham United

Subs from Kurucz, Stanislas, Daprela, Nouble, Da Costa, Jímenez, N’Gala

Doubtful Parker (hamstring)

Injured Ilunga (hamstring, 23 Jan), Gabbidon (hamstring, 23 Jan), Noble (hamstring, 23 Jan), Cole (knee, 26 Jan), Hines (knee, 26 Jan), Boa Morte (knee, Feb), Franco (hamstring, Feb), Davenport (legs, indef), Dyer (hamstring, indef)

Form guide LWDLLL Disciplinary record Y41 R3

Leading scorer Cole 7

Match pointers

• Only one team have managed to score more than once at Villa Park in the 13 league matches played there this season – Wigan on the opening day

• West Ham have won none of their last nine league away matches and lost the last three in a row

• Aston Villa have conceded just one headed goal, fewer than any other team

• West Ham have won three of their last 20 league games against Villa

• Eleven of the last 19 league meetings between these teams have ended in a draw

Aston VillaWest Ham UnitedPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk

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Dec 01

Birmingham favourites to land Craig Gardner from Aston Villa

• Birmingham set to ward off interest from Wolves
• £3m expected for England Under-21 midfielder

Birmingham City have emerged as favourites to sign Craig Gardner from Aston Villa when the transfer window reopens next month despite interest from their Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The England Under-21 international, who was a target for Sunderland in the summer, has made only three appearances for Villa this season and will be allowed to leave the club for a fee of about £3m.

Birmingham and Wolves are both keen to sign the midfielder but Alex McLeish, who has a sizeable transfer kitty at his disposal, looks set to win the race.

Birmingham CityAston VillaTransfer windowPremier LeagueStuart Jamesguardian.co.uk

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