Good evening! Well, we have had the start of the Football League and the Premier League in recent weeks, and now it is the turn of the
EFL Cup to get underway for the 2018-19 season!
Our focus tonight is on Huish Park, where League Two strugglers Yeovil Town will be looking to pull off a giant killing against Championship promotion hopefuls - and one-time champions of Europe - Aston Villa.
We will have a close look at both clubs in a moment, but first let's check out the team news...
YEOVIL STARTING XI: Baxter; Dickinson, Warren, Sowunmi, Cole, Fisher, Jaiyesimi, Arouin, D'Almeida, McDonald, James
YEOVIL SUBS: Phillips, Mugabi, Rogers, Pattison, Henry, Clarke, Santos
ASTON VILLA STARTING XI: Moreira; De Laet, Tuanzebe, Elphick, Taylor; Whelan, Hourihane, Doyle-Hayes, Green, Adomah; Hepburn-Murphy
ASTON VILLA SUBS: Bunn, Bree, Chester, McGinn, Grealish, McKirdy. Kodjia
What can we make of those two sides, then?
Well, as is the custom with the EFL Cup, there are changes galore - most notably for Aston Villa who make nine from the weekend win over Wigan Athletic. Axel Tuanzebe and Andre Green are the only two players to keep their place in the side, with wholesale changes otherwise made by Steve Bruce.
There are starts for Jake Doyle-Hayes and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, while Andre Moreira makes his competitive debut for the club in goal.
Yeovil have not quite rung the changes to the same extent as Villa, bringing in four new faces from their draw against Mansfield on Saturday as Warren, James, Cole and Fisher all come into the starting lineup and Donnellan, Mugabi, Santos and Zoko drop out.
The absences of Donnellan and Zoko are enforced, with both limping off at the weekend and not being risked today, although neither injury is thought to be too serious.
Jordan Green remains suspended, but Tom James - who rejected personal terms at West Brom over the summer - makes a timely return from his own suspension following his red card on the opening day of the season.
To be missing club captain Zoko is a major blow for Yeovil as they look to pull off a giant killing, but it certainly isn't worth risking aggravating any injury he may have after the weekend. As nice as a cup run would be for Yeovil - and is for any lower-league team - the league has to remain their priority.
It looks set to be another struggle for the Glovers this season as they attempt to once more stay in the Football League, having finished 19th, 20th and 19th in their three seasons in the bottom tier since suffering back-to-back relegations from the Championship.
Those heady days of Championship football seem a long time ago now for Yeovil, and this season has not exactly got off to an ideal start for them either, with only one point from their opening two games.
Manager Darren Way may well believe that he should have more than that, though, having twice taken the lead against Mansfield last time out, only to be pegged back on each occasion in the 2-2 draw, with all the goals coming in the opening 26 minutes.
Yeovil's opening-day defeat to Bury was also packed full of action, with Way's side having two men sent off but only losing to the solitary goal in the 89th minute.
Yeovil are now winless in their last 10 competitive matches stretching back to a 6-2 away thrashing of Coventry City in early April, and whilst struggling teams often rely on home form to get them out of trouble, Yeovil's record here of late has been poor.
The Glovers are winless in their last seven competitive outings at Huish Park, losing five of those and drawing two in a run which stretches back to February. That streak also includes them failing to score in five games in a row, although they have now scored exactly two goals in their most recent two home games.
Yeovil are now winless in their last 10 competitive matches stretching back to a 6-2 away thrashing of Coventry City in early April, and whilst struggling teams often rely on home form to get them out of trouble, Yeovil's record here of late has been poor.
The Glovers are winless in their last seven competitive outings at Huish Park, losing five of those and drawing two in a run which stretches back to February. That streak also includes them failing to score in five games in a row, although they have now scored exactly two goals in their most recent two home games.
Things don't get much better looking solely at this competition either; Yeovil have scored only two goals in their last four League Cup matches, failing to net in three of those games, and they have lost eight of their last nine in front of their own fans - the exception beings a 3-0 triumph over Colchester in 2012.
Yeovil have also only won two of their last 10 League Cup games against opposition from a higher divisions, with those coming against Walsall and Charlton, the latter of which was 10 years ago.
Villa's own recent history is chequered too, particularly considering the size of the club, with the one-time European Cup winners suffering relegation from the Premier League and then facing the prospect of administration this summer.
The financial woes - which came about as a result of a failed gamble of promotion back to the Premier League - have since been eased by significant investment, though, meaning that they did not have to undergo a fire sale of their best players - most notably Jack Grealish.
Steve Bruce's future was also under threat as speculation grew that the new owners wanted Thierry Henry in charge, but in the end they backed the Englishman and they have so far been repaid with two wins from two in the Championship.
Villa have looked good, too; only Leeds have scored more in their opening two Championship outings, while Villa have seen their six goals come from five different goalscorers.
It has been a much better season than many fans may have feared when the financial news broke during the summer, then, and the manners of the victories will have also pleased supporters.
Villa have had to come from behind in both of the games, which while not being a desirable habit certainly shows character, scoring twice in five minutes to seal a 3-1 win over Hull and then notched a 94th-minute winner against Wigan at the weekend.
Villa only won two of their final six away games of last season, but the victory over Hull got them off to a good start on the road this time around, while they also won their last EFL Cup away game, ending a run of three straight defeats in the process.
The Villans also have a good record against lower-league opposition in this competition, winning 11 of their last 14 such EFL Cup outings.
PREDICTION! Right, we're nearing kickoff now at Huish Park, which means that it is time for a prediction!
Villa will naturally be the favourites for this match, but Yeovil's pitch can be a leveller and the number of changes made by the visitors could also help the home side. However, it is hard to back against what looks like a confident Villa outfit now.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Yeovil 0-2 Aston Villa
At this stage I would usually look at the head-to-head record between the two clubs, but this will be their first ever competitive meeting, so let's have a quick reminder of the team news before the game gets underway...
YEOVIL STARTING XI: Baxter; Dickinson, Warren, Sowunmi, Cole, Fisher, Jaiyesimi, Arouin, D'Almeida, McDonald, James
ASTON VILLA STARTING XI: Moreira; De Laet, Tuanzebe, Elphick, Taylor; Whelan, Hourihane, Doyle-Hayes, Green, Adomah; Hepburn-Murphy
KICKOFF: Here we go, then! Aston Villa get us underway at Huish Park!
UPDATE: Nothing major to report from the opening stages of this game, but there are 33 other EFL Cup matches taking place tonight and plenty of them have already sene goals - including two for QPR to take very early control of their tie with Peterborough.
Encouraging start for Yeovil as they keep the pressure on the Villa defence for a sustained period, winning the first corner of the game. It is played short, but the eventual shot is blocked before it can test the keeper.
Yeovil have certainly not been overawed by their opponents here, but then again not many would have expected them to be considering their history of giant killings. The hosts are trying to get the ball forward quickly whenever possible.
Villa are struggling to get settled here at the moment. It is Yeovil that have been the better team in the opening eight minutes.
Villa win their first free kick in a dangerous position and Hourhane whips it in to a decent area, but Fisher is there to hook the ball away.
Good football from the hosts as Sowunmi exchanges passes when striding forward from defence, but his resultant cross is very much a central defender's cross.
SAVE! Really good play from Fisher as he races on to a ball down the right channel and makes a fine challenge on Tuanzebe, who tried to be a bit too clever. Fisher then gets to his feet and tries to curl one into the top far corner, but Moreira claws it away with a brilliant save.
The resulting corner is also met by Fisher, but this time he can't trouble the goal with his header.
SHOT! This would have been a goal worthy of the Champions League, yet alone the EFL Cup first round! The ball is only cleared as far as Arquin, who shows great technique to fire a first-time volley which flies just over the Aston Villa goal.
Yeovil really do have the bit between their teeth here - they have been comfortably the better team so far and look the most likely to break the deadlock at the moment.
SHOT! Half a chance for Villa as a long ball is played forward for Adomah, who can only help it on its way forward from the edge of the box. His header bobbles on target, but is easy for the keeper to gather.
UPDATE: It may not be the most glamorous tournament in world football, but there is never any shortage of drama in the EFL Cup and there have been goals galore so far tonight. Mansfield are already 3-1 up against Accrington Stanley, having come from behind!
Nottingham Forest are also in a spot of bother - they trail Bury 1-0 and have had a man sent off.
A long Yeovil throw comes to nothing and Villa have the chance to break, but Hourihane attempts a hugely ambitious long pass forward which runs out before Adomah can catch it.
YELLOW CARD! Hourihane is the first name in the book tonight for a cynical tug back on Jaiyesimi.
CHANCE! Villa create their first chance of the night with a sweeping passing move which Yeovil are unable to deal with. Green collects the ball down the right channel and pulls it back into the middle for Hepburn-Murphy, but he snatches at his effort and it goes comfortably wide.
Villa have finally started to grow into this game now, and it is the Championship outfit who are starting to gain control of proceedings as we approach the half-hour mark. Worrying signs for Yeovil.
Villa have Yeovil pinned back into their own half now and the hosts are struggling to get any sort of possession now. A lack of quality in the final third is letting Villa down at the moment, but they are looking more and more dangerous now.
We're past the half-hour mark at Huish Park now and, while
Darren Way would have been delighted with the opening 20 minutes or so, Villa have really started to exert their authority on the game in the last 10. Yeovil will just be wanting to make it to half time now.
Taylor picks a loose ball up on the left flank before squeezing the ball back to Hourihane. The midfielder looks like he is trying to drill a cross into the middle, but he slices it and the ball goes closer towards flying in the top corner. The keeper looked to have it covered, though.
YEOVIL SUB: The hosts are forced into an early change here as Alex Pattison replaces Reece Cole.
There didn't appear to be too much wrong with Cole when he jogged off the pitch then, but confirmation has arrived from the touchline that he has picked up a thigh problem.
OFF THE LINE! Out of nothing, Yeovil almost take the lead! Villa fall asleep from a lofted ball into the box, allowing Jaiyesimi to beat the offside trap and turn it back into a dangerous area. The pass is slightly behind Fisher in the middle, but he swivels on it and drills a low strike towards goal which Tuanzebe needs to clear off the line!
That chance just seems to have revitalised Yeovil a little and given them a much-needed injection of belief shortly before half time.
CHANCE! Chance for the visitors here as Tuanzebe peels off his man from a corner and gets to the low delivery on the volley, but he gets his finish all wrong.
SAVE! Brilliant strike from Green, but it is matched by a superb stop from Baxter! Green dips and dives away from his marker, skipping away from his twice before letting fly from range. The shot takes a deflection on the way through, but Baxter makes a superb flying stop to turn it over the crossbar.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Yeovil to break the deadlock! One simple pass forward undoes the entire Villa defence and sends Jaiyesimi clean through on goal. Moreira comes out, but doesn't do so with much confidence and the ball ends up squirming between his legs. Jaiyesimi almost collects it the other side, but Tuanzebe is tracking back to put it behind for a corner.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Yeovil think that they have taken the lead, but it is disallowed! Villa failed to deal with a corner into the box, with Warren rising highest in the middle. A scramble ensures, including one effort from Sowunmi which strikes Taylor on the line before bouncing to Jaiyesimi, who tucks it home from point-blank range!
Jaiyesimi is off celebrating, but the referee's whistle has gone for a foul on Glenn Whelan in the middle. That is a soft one!
YELLOW CARD! Doyle-Hayes is the second player in the book tonight.
There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: YEOVIL TOWN 0-0 ASTON VILLA
The first half comes to an end at Huish Park and we are still goalless between League Two Yeovil and Championship Aston Villa here.
Yeovil have arguably been the better team so far, and they have certainly created the better chances too. Villa enjoyed a spell on top midway through the half, but aside from that it has been quite uncomfortable for the visitors.
The biggest talking point of the first half came just before the interval, when the hosts were controversial denied an opening goal for a foul against Warren on Whelan.
A scramble ensued after the supposed foul which eventually ended with Taylor clearing one effort off the line and Jaiyesimi tucking the rebound home from point-blank range. However, the referee's whistle had already gone - although Yeovil can rightly feel hard done by about the decision.
Yeovil have also had an effort cleared off the line when Villa fell asleep from a long ball forward into the box, allowing Jaiyesimi to nips in behind and turn the ball back into a dangerous area.
Jaiyesimi's pass teed up his strike partner Fisher, who fired a low effort towards goal which was cleared away by a mixture of Tuanzebe and Moreira.
Fisher and Arquin have also come close to opening the scoring in spectacular fashion, while at the other end Aston Villa's sights of goal have been fairly few and far between.
Green has come closest for the visitors with a thumping long-range strike which needed to be turned over the top, while Tuanzebe and Hepburn-Murphy have both snatched at decent chances from inside the box.
KICKOFF: Yeovil get us back underway for the second half!
It will be interesting to see how long Steve Bruce leaves it before making any changes in this second half. If it starts in similar fashion to the first then I suspect it may not be too long.
PENALTY SHOUT! Warren has got away with one here! He was unlucky to be penalised in one area, but he is fortunate not to give away a penalty here!
Initially it looks like a fine block from the defender, who had already thrown himself in front of one Hourihane effort before recovering and doing the same to a second strike from the Villa midfielder. This time, though, Warren leads with his hand across the ground and the ball strikes his outstretched arm. The referee says no, though.
So, Yeovil have had a goal wrongly disallowed, but also got away with what looked like a clear penalty too. Luck has evened itself out for the Glovers!
Moreira hasn't been entirely convincing on his debut tonight. A ball is lifted into the box and it should be the keeper's to catch all day. However, he goes for a punch - with one eye seemingly on the advancing Yeovil striker. He gets the ball away, but it wasn't as commanding as you might hope from a keeper.
As if to drive home the point, Moreira has just come racing out of his box when there was never really any need to. He is beaten to the ball, but once again gets away with it.
CHANCE! Good chance for Villa to break the deadlock! Adomah whips a cross into the middle which De Laet - still up from a corner moments ago - meets. However, he can't get enough contact on the ball and glances it wide of the target.
ASTON VILLA SUBS: Double change for Villa here as Steve Bruce calls the cavalry. Jack Grealish and Jonathan Kodjia replace Doyle-Hayes and Hepburn-Murphy.
PENALTY! Penalty to Yeovil! A corner flies into the box and looks to be cleared by Villa, but the referee blows for a penalty and shows a yellow card to Elphick for wrestling inside the area!
PENALTY! SAVED!
What a huge moment this could be! Fisher lines up the spot kick, but Moreira guesses the right way and makes a big save.
It hasn't been the best debut performance for the Atletico Madrid loanee, but he may have just salvaged it with that stop!
Yeovil need to pick themselves up, keep their heads clear and continue as they had been going after that disappointment. It was a big moment for them to take the lead, but they need to move on now.
YELLOW CARD! Flash point between Kodjia and Warren as they get involved in a wrestling match off the ball, in which both go to ground. Neither back down, but it eventually cools down and the ref shows a yellow to both.
OFF THE BAR! What a goal this would have been! Grealish only needs to earn a yard before unleashing an incredible strike from range which crashes against the crossbar! The keeper had no chance there!
YELLOW CARD! D'Almeida is the latest name in the book for a late and heavy challenge.
CHANCE! Yeovil win the ball back high up the pitch following a poor pass from Moreira and the ball is smuggled in to McDonald. However, he takes too long over his finish and his eventual strike is blocked.
CHANCE! Aston Villa go straight up the other end and create an opening of their own as Green steps inside before going for goal from inside the area, only to drag his effort wide of the near post.
SHOT! This is end to end stuff now! Villa are only able to clear the ball as far as Pattison on the edge of the box and he unleashes a thunderbolt which flies narrowly over the crossbar. The keeper was not getting to that one!
Less than 20 minutes remaining in this match now and still we are goalless. A reminder that there is no extra time in the EFL Cup this season - we will go straight to penalties if it stays like this.
SHOT! Almost a moment of inspiration from Green as he flicks a low cross towards goal with the outside of his boot, but it is relatively simple for the keeper and Adomah cannot react in time.
GOAL! YEOVIL TOWN 0-1 ASTON VILLA (CONOR HOURIHANE)
Aston Villa finally have the breakthrough, and it is so harsh on Yeovil!
Kodjia shows good skill down the right flank, throwing a step-over before darting inside past his marker. His low ball into the box hits Sowunmi and deflects across the face of goal, and Hourihane has made up a huge amount of ground to tuck it home from virtually on the line.
That is a major blow for Yeovil, who have more than held their own tonight. They have just over 10 minutes to force a penalty shootout now!
If Villa can hold on to this then it would very much be a banana skin avoided. They have had strokes of luck - a disallowed goal which shouldn't have been and a missed penalty for the hosts, but as things stand they will be in the next round.
YEOVIL SUB: Another change for the hosts here as Korrey Henry replaces Jaiyesimi.
ASTON VILLA SUB: Villa also make a change, with James Bree coming on for Green.
YEOVIL SUB: The hosts make another change here as Fisher is replaced by debutant Gabriel Rogers.
Time is running out for Yeovil now, but they can be proud of their performance here. They have more than held their own against the might of Aston Villa and, on another day, may well have done enough to progress.
Yeovil are knocking on the door in these closing stages, desperately trying to pump the ball forward and put pressure on the defence. Chances are proving hard to come by in these closing stages, though.
Don't give up yet Yeovil - the fourth official has indicated SIX minutes of added time!
Yeovil are not giving up hope here! It is backs to the wall stuff for Villa now - they have no interest in looking for a second goal to kill the game off.
CHANCE! Chance for Yeovil to steal a late equaliser! A long throw is flicked on by Sowunmi for his centre-back partner Warren, but he cannot keep his effort down.
FULL TIME: YEOVIL TOWN 0-1 ASTON VILLA
A spirited Yeovil performance ultimately comes to nothing, then, with Aston Villa progressing through to the second round courtesy of
Conor Hourihane's late goal.
That only tells half of the story, though, with League Two Yeovil having an effort cleared off the line, a goal controversially disallowed and a penalty saved. It could have been so different for the hosts!
Right, that is all we have time for this evening!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Aston Villa survive a scare to progress into the second round of the EFL Cup at the expense of League Two Yeovil! I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
