It's a brisk Autumn evening at Villa Park. We're here for a mid-week game in the Carabao Cup, a trophy we've won five times in the past in its former guise as the League Cup.
The opposition are Wolverhampton Wanderers. Under Portugese coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, they enjoyed a fantastic first season back in the Premiership last year. Deservedly, they secured a place in the Europa League. This has, however, stretched their small squad rather thinly - they've already played some twenty games to date in their current campaign. Accordingly, it comes as a little surprise when Nuno puts out a team comprised almost entirely of youngsters and fringe players.
Whilst Villa see out the game comfortably with goals from our two Egyptians, Anwar El Ghazi and Ahmed Elmohamady it was hardly a classic of modern-day football. Still, the win secures a place in the quarter finals and a match-up with Liverpool some time in the new year.
