To say I've been busy the past few months would be an understatement and that is why I'm not hitting my quota of posts. And yes, I should have posted this one earlier, but it's before kick off and it's here. And it wont be the shortest ever, but it could come close.
And that brings me to some bullet points.
1. FA Cup semi finals baby
2. FA Youth Cup semi-final - [video here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li4Fm-tlOwM)
3. Business end to the season
4. A trip to Brighton tonight
I want to write about all the above, but I can't. But I'm going to mention the FA Youth Cup. It's a positive thing to see and we should all be quite happy with what is coming. Some of these kids have the potential to go all the way and that they're playing in claret and blue now is a positive.
The FA Cup semi final is also very nice. I'd prefer it not to be at Wembley, but that's just me. And every game counts, starting with Brighton tonight. I've got a few more things to do, so I'm going to do them and leave you with the usual. Back in a couple of hours.
Match facts from the BBC
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**Head-to-head**
* Brighton won at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League for the first time last May, courtesy of João Pedro's late goal (D2, L2).
* This season's reverse fixture ended 2-2, meaning Villa are winless in two meetings – having won the previous five.
**Brighton & Hove Albion**
* Brighton are vying to set a club record on Wednesday of four top-flight home wins in a row.
* They have only lost two of their 14 league games at the Amex Stadium this season but, with 21 goals, are the lowest scorers at home among the current top nine teams.
* Nonetheless, Albion could score at least two goals in six successive top-flight matches for the first time.
* They have taken 13 points from their past five league fixtures home and away, only dropping points in a 2-2 draw away to Manchester City before the international break.
* João Pedro could become only the fifth player to score in three successive home appearances for Brighton in the Premier League. His last two goals were both penalties.
**Aston Villa**
* They could earn back-to-back away league wins for the first time since doing so at the beginning of the season.
* Villa's run of five successive victories in all competitions is their longest since August and September last year.
* Unai Emery's side have kept four clean sheets in those past five games, as many as in their previous 29. They have recorded three consecutive shutouts for the first time in 14 months; Villa last went four matches without conceding a goal in December 2020.
* Fourteen of their past 15 goals in all competitions have been scored in the second half.
* Aston Villa's tally of 13 Premier League goals from set-pieces this season, excluding penalties, is unsurpassed prior to the midweek fixtures.
* Ollie Watkins has scored 13 league goals this season; six were equalisers and five gave Villa the lead.