Aston Villa head to Wembley on Sunday for the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.

It will mark the third straight season that the midlands club have played at the national stadium, having reached the last two Championship play-off finals.

Here, the PA news agency looks back over the six matches that took Dean Smith’s side to the March 1 showpiece.

Round two: Crewe 1 Villa 6

Ezri Konsa netted an early opener and Conor Hourihane struck twice before half-time to ensure a straightforward night. Keinan Davis, Frederic Guilbert and Jack Grealish ran up the score in the second half, with Ryan Wintle’s consolation making it 5-1 at the time.

Round three: Brighton 1 Villa 3

Jack Grealish, right, scores Villa's third goal against Brighton
Jack Grealish, right, blasts Villa’s third goal against Brighton (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Jota opened the scoring, with Hourihane and Grealish on target again either side of Haydon Roberts’ reply for a much-changed Seagulls side.

Round four: Villa 2 Wolves 1

Ahmed El Ghazi’s opener was cancelled out by Patrick Cutrone, but Ahmed Elmohamady quickly restored Villa’s lead and they held on to reach the last eight.

Quarter-final: Villa 5 Liverpool 0

Villa were the beneficiaries of a clash with Liverpool’s Club World Cup commitments as the Reds sent out a second-string team. Hourihane’s opener was followed by a Morgan Boyes own goal and Jonathan Kodjia scored twice before half-time. Wesley rounded off the scoring.

Semi-final, first leg: Leicester 1 Villa 1

Orjan Nyland saves from Jamie Vardy, centre, in the semi-final first leg
Orjan Nyland saves from Jamie Vardy, centre, in the semi-final first leg (Nick Potts/PA)

Guilbert gave Villa a first-half lead and Orjan Nyland made several fine saves, but Kelechi Iheanacho’s second-half strike left the tie in the balance heading back to Villa Park.

Semi-final, second leg: Villa 2 Leicester 1 (Villa win 3-2 on aggregate)

Trezeguet is chaired off the pitch by Villa fans after his late winner
Trezeguet is chaired off the pitch by Villa fans after his late winner (Mike Egerton/PA)

Matt Targett gave Villa the lead on the night and in the tie with a breakaway goal in the first half. Iheanacho finally found a way past the inspired Nyland with just over a quarter of an hour remaining but in added time Elmohamady crossed for fellow Egyptian Trezeguet to volley Villa into the final.