Ally Robertson: Nothing is decided in the first leg
Put it this way, everything that’s happened up until now means nothing.
The 46 games that led Albion and Villa to this point are irrelevant.
Whether you’ve been on a 10-game winning streak, or in the top four all season, the next two fixtures are all that matter.
We are on the verge of two cup finals in the space of four days, against the same team.
What makes it even more intense is that, as well as being the most important games of the season with a place at Wembley up for grabs, it’s also a vicious derby.
It won’t be difficult for the players to get up for these games, but it may be hard for them to keep their emotions in check.
For me, it will be the team who makes the least mistakes that goes through.
Both teams have proven they can score goals at will this season, so it will come down to which defence remains focused for longer.
I played two-legged ties in the Uefa Cup with Albion. Away from home, the most important thing is to give nothing away in the first 20 minutes.
You have to stay firm in the opening period, and the longer the game goes on the home crowd start to get jittery.
The Baggies can use a sold out Villa Park to their advantage, if they take the sting out of the game.
The worst thing would be if they score in the first 10 or 15 minutes, and then the whole stadium will light up.
It doesn’t matter how well we play in these games, or what we do. All that matters is the score.
You could play fantastic, dominate proceedings, but it means nothing if you lose 2-0. I would rather play abysmally and win 2-0.
Regardless of what happens at Villa Park, nothing will be decided today.
Look at Liverpool and Tottenham in the Champions League, that’s just proof how much a two-legged tie can swing from one way to the other.
It’s never over until the final whistle goes.
Who would have thought Liverpool could beat Barcelona by four goals? Who gave Spurs a chance 3-0 down with one half to play? Whatever happens, Albion cannot give up.
I haven’t got a clue how it’s going to go, but I hope we can take a draw back to The Hawthorns.
A win would be fantastic, but a draw gives us the edge. Fingers (and everything else) crossed.
