Unai Emery's side travel to Deepdale for quarter-final clash

Three games from their first major trophy and in with a shout for Europe but for a club their size, these moments are fleeting The first time Bournemouth played in an FA Cup quarter‑final was 1957 when they faced Manchester United. They were still called Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic in those days and played in the Third Division (South). They had put out Wolves and Tottenham in the previous two rounds, the excitement enticing a record crowd of 28,799 to Dean Court to see them play Matt Busby’s side. The United centre-half Mark Jones was carried off early on and, nine years before the introduction of substitutes, Bournemouth took the lead against the 10 men, Brian Bedford nudging in after Ray Wood had flapped at a corner. Two Johnny Berry goals, the second a penalty, in the space of five second‑half minutes, though, saw United through. They went on to lose to Aston Villa in the final, when Peter McParland fractured Wood’s cheekbone after six minutes, forcing the centre-half Jackie Blanchflower to take over in goal. Continue reading...

Championship club face elite opposition in Aston Villa but the Lancashire town is gripped by Cup fever ‘I’ve had to tell my mum not to bother with Mother’s Day,” quips Preston fan Tom Bates. The 29-year-old has forgone the purchase of flowers, cards and the prospect of a Sunday roast to buy a ticket at Deepdale for North End’s first FA Cup quarter-final in 59 years. The past six decades have brought Preston six relegations and promotions, a third and fourth division title and a solitary Lancashire Senior Cup. Since they triumphed in the League One playoff final in 2015 their seasons have been humdrum: they have finished between seventh and 14th each season and this is the first time they have got beyond the fourth round in either cup. It has given supporters such as Bates, who saw his first match when he was two, little to celebrate. The visit of the Champions League side Aston Villa to Lancashire will be one of the biggest days in the club’s recent history, played out in front of a vociferous crowd of 23,400. A tie at Wembley awaits the winners. Continue reading...

Our tipster Jones Knows previews the best of the FA Cup quarter-final action: Fulham vs Crystal Palace, Brighton vs Nottingham Forest, Preston vs Aston Villa & Bournemouth vs Manchester City; Play Super 6 to win £250,000!

FA Cup quarter-final team news from Fulham, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Man City, Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Preston and Aston Villa.

Training images from Bodymoor Heath

Aston Villa boss previews trip to Preston North End

FixturesPreston North End Vs. Aston Villa - Sun, Mar 30th 2025, 13:30 Ross Barkley and Axel Disasi are expected to be Aston Villa’s only absentees for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Preston North End. Midfielder Barkley is closing in on his long-awaited return from injury but this weekend’s cup tie is set to come too soon. Versatile defender Disasi is cup-tied for the clash against the Lilywhites having featured for parent club Chelsea in the third round of the competition. Amadou Onana returned to Villa’s matchday squad last time out for our 3-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Club Brugge over two weeks ago. Manager Unai Emery provided a fitness update at Friday afternoon’s pre-match media conference. “I think the only player not available, ruled out for tomorrow, is Barkley,” said the Villa boss. “We are going to train now, in the afternoon, and the players joining us today, like Emi Martínez, Robin Olsen, Leon Bailey, Andrés García, how they are physically. “Hopefully we can keep the players we have now being available for the last two months.”

Get ready for Aston Villa's trip to Preston North End with 12 questions on an array of topics

Cheer on Unai Emery's team from the Lower Grounds

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton takes on DJ and Aston Villa fan Nathan Dawe with his predictions for the four FA Cup quarter-final ties.

Ahead of this weekends FA Cup quarter-finals, heres a look at why the competition matters to the eight teams - Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Man City, Nottingham Forest and Preston - still in with a chance of lifting the trophy this season

A look back at our previous last eight ties since 2000

As his old clubs Preston and Aston Villa prepare to meet in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, Simon Grayson tells BBC Sport about managing in Nepal.