Sunday 25 January 2015 14:28, UK
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is relishing the FA Cup clash with Aston Villa but is saddened that the competition has lost some of its sparkle.
The Sky Bet Championship leaders face a Villa side who have failed to score in their last five top-flight matches.
Bournemouth showed their credentials earlier in the season when they beat West Brom in the Capital One Cup before losing to Liverpool in the next round.
And Howe is in confident mood ahead of the showdown at Villa Park, saying: "Our league position gives us a certain amount of freedom.
"There's always pressure regardless of where you are in the league and whether you are home or away.
"In some respects, you want that to get the best out of your players. I have no problems in saying that I expect us to perform.
"We have flexibility and freedom, but that's not to say we won't try and be strong, competitive and give Aston Villa a good game," he told Sky Sports.
The Cherries boss is a huge fan of the FA Cup but fears some of its “magic” has been lost to the Premier League over the years.
"It's sad that with all the tweaks to the competition and the changes which have been made it's not the prominent cup that it once was," he told the Daily Mail.
"The Premier League now has definitely taken priority, in my eyes. That's a shame.
"But I think it can be temporary.
"I'd love to think the FA Cup will come back. I think it can."
