With Saturday and our big Premier League kick off against Watford edging ever nearer, Aston Villa fans know the season is truly upon on as we now know our first opposition in this seasons EFL Cup – we face Barrow in the second round.
Our #CarabaoCup journey will begin against Barrow. 🏆
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 11, 2021
Following the midweek first round fixtures, the draw for the second round took place yesterday evening, and League Two side Barrow will be a fantastic early opportunity for head coach Dean Smith to lean on some of our talented youngsters and give them minutes early on in the campaign. It should also be well timed to get Leon Bailey extra minutes, as well as whoever else we bring in before the window ‘slams shut’.
A few days left before we see whether head coach Dean Smith can make it three seasons on the trot where we show significant improvement, so that means only one thing – Fantasy Football!
Join in with Vital Villa’s Fantasy League by Clicking Here
Second round fixtures will take place in the week beginning Monday, August 23 and we have been drawn away from home, so everybody get the maps out and look for Holker Street and then shake your head as that’s a mental trip for a midweek game!
Barrow reached the second round with a 1-0 victory over Scunthorpe United, courtesy of a Dimitri Sea overhead kick – yes that Dimitri Sea who was with us between 2017-20 before we released him from our youth setup. This will be the first competitive game with Barrow, but a certain Peter Withe was the last man to play professional football, who had also played league football for Barrow.
The tie should take place about a week before the Big Man’s birthday, so that gives the game an extra element.
Vital Villa’s League Cup Forum Thread
Is This Villa's Year?
Yes Absolutely
No, Not Just Yet
Villa fans on social media seem in fine spirits about the draw, even if it’s a hell of a journey.
Love it
— Jamie (@Jtavfc2000) August 11, 2021
🤢🤢🤢
— Villafanreport (@Villafanreport7) August 11, 2021
Huge game
— Ben (@benharris42) August 11, 2021
Who are they and where are they ?
— Damien 🏴 (@damien_99) August 11, 2021
Brilliant. Just glad it’s someone other than Burton for once
— Josh (@Jannetts_) August 11, 2021
Bidace and Chuk starts😍
— . (@ViIlaI_) August 11, 2021
Take us back to Wembley lads 💜
— Quentin Gesp (@quentin_gsp) August 11, 2021
We need to be going all out to win a cup this season
— darren (@dsavage147) August 11, 2021
That should be wheely good.
— David Blackburn (@djbpunkrock) August 11, 2021
Can we win it pls
— Reece🏴 (@ReeceTay_29) August 11, 2021
YES NOT STOKE!!
— Sammy 🎵 (@samsgotaface) August 11, 2021
Looking at Barrow and the ground on google I would say the fixture will be played sometime in the 1970's
— Iain AVFC (@alianza53) August 11, 2021
My old man said be a Barrow fan and I said, in Furness dad I'd rather follow the Villa…
— Drummond (@gorbymudrock) August 11, 2021
Wheel need to be at our best
— cj (@lvad78) August 11, 2021
Journey being the key word
— Nick (@Wattsnick85) August 11, 2021
When Villa legend Peter Withe played for Huddersfield Town in 1990, he was the last footballer still playing professionally who had played League football for Barrow. Now @BarrowAFC and @AVFCOfficial will play each other in the @Carabao_Cup, one week before Peter's 70th birthday. pic.twitter.com/sDDOJOhXQi
— Tony T-Rox Cowdrill 🦁⭐️ (@TonysaurusRox) August 11, 2021
