Taking a break from a fairytale Premier League title challenge, Aston Villa head to the Riverside Stadium for an FA Cup third-round date with Middlesbrough on Saturday evening.
The Lions ended 2023 as they mean to go on with a nervy 3-2 success over Burnley in the top flight, while their hosts were most recently defeated 3-1 at home by Coventry City in the Championship.
However, with the Blues still entrenched in mid-table under Mauricio Pochettino, the weekend's visit of Villa may be deemed a more daunting affair for the Riverside faithful, who have witnessed their side slump to two defeats from their last three contests in the second tier.
Either side of a 2-1 success away to Huddersfield Town, Carrick's men suffered a surprise 1-0 Boxing Day defeat to Rotherham United and kicked off 2024 with a humbling loss to Coventry on New Year's Day, where an opening Josh Coburn strike was ultimately in vain.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto's brace and a Haji Wright effort denied the 12th-placed hosts the chance to rise closer to the coveted playoff line, but Middlesbrough will now consign their second-tier endeavours to the back of their minds as they bid to avoid another premature third-round FA Cup exit.
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