McCann and Barry on revenge mission

Gareth Barry and Gavin McCann will be hoping for revenge when Aston Villa aim to inflict further misery on Leicester City in tonight's Carling Cup third-round tie at Villa Park.

McCann was part of the Sunderland side beaten at the semi-final stage by the Foxes in 1999 when a valiant fightback could not undo the damage of two goals by Tony Cottee in the first leg at the Stadium of Light. Barry was in the Villa line-up which suffered a surprise defeat by Leicester at the same stage of the competition the following season.

After a goalless draw at Villa Park, a single goal was enough to win the return for Leicester, who went on to defeat Tranmere 2-1 in the final and make up for their defeat by Tottenham at Wembley 12 months earlier.

It was the first part of a double disappointment in that 1999-2000 season for Villa, who were beaten by Chelsea in the last FA Cup final at Wembley.

McCann said: "I had just moved to Sunderland when we played that semi and it's the furthest I've got in a cup. Hopefully the result will go for Villa on Wednesday, and we need a good run in the cup. It's important for the fans as well.

"We beat Leicester 3-1 at our place earlier this season when they had a player [Les Ferdinand] sent off, but they did well in the second half even with 10 men. They might be bottom of the Premiership but we will take nothing for granted. It's the cup, a one-off.

"We are keeping clean sheets now and if we can continue to do that and get a few more goals, you never know what might happen."

Barry, one of the few survivors left at Villa from the era of Paul Merson, Gareth Southgate and David James, is looking to bring further woe to Leicester after their 4-3 defeat at Wolves on Saturday after leading 3-0 at half-time.

"We see this competition as a good chance of having a cup run, and if we can beat Leicester and then get another home draw we will be well down the path towards [the final in] Cardiff," Barry said.

"With our home form we would fancy anyone at home and it will be about getting a bit of luck in that direction.

"Leicester have been a very difficult team for Villa to beat down the years, although we put three goals past them in quick time at our place in the League game this season.

"I remember us missing out in the semi-final against them three years ago when we were favourites, so we owe them something in this competition. It was disappointing because the team we had at Villa then should have won something. The side was packed with internationals and had loads of experience."

The Villa manager, David O'Leary, will check on the fitness of his central defender Ronny Johnsen (toe) before finalising his line-up. But the midfielder Lee Hendrie is still out with a calf injury sustained in the derby with Birmingham City earlier this month.

Adams has decided to make 10 changes to his side. The goalkeeper, Ian Walker, will be the only survivor in the starting line-up from the Foxes side which was beaten at Molineux.