18/12/2017 12:41, Report by Adam Marshall

Setting the scene: United have provided the perfect response to the derby defeat, picking up maximum points from games against Bournemouth and West Brom. The fixtures keep coming, with this Carabao Cup clash at Ashton Gate next on the agenda. Bristol City are in fine form themselves, riding high in third in the Championship table, and the hosts will be fired up for a tie they have been eagerly awaiting ever since the draw was made. Lee Johnson's side overcame Nottingham Forest at the weekend to make it four wins on the spin. 

How can I watch it? The 20:00 GMT start is live on Sky Sports in the UK. Subscribers to MUTV on Sky or Virgin Media, the club’s MUTV app or online at MUTV.com will be able to watch unrivalled build-up from 18:00 GMT on Match Day and listen to radio commentary of the game before watching it in full at midnight. You can also keep up to date with all the action via ManUtd.com’s live rolling blog and on our official Twitter account @ManUtd.

Any team news? Antonio Valencia has probably been added to the injury list after being withdrawn at West Brom with a hamstring problem. Eric Bailly remains out following ankle surgery, while Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini have also been absent for some time, but Jose Mourinho could rotate his squad with a trip to Leicester City on the horizon. On the plus side, Paul Pogba's three-match ban is over. For City, Famara Diedhiou, Milan Djuric, Jens Hegeler, Ivan Lucic, Callum O'Dowda, Gary O'Neil, Eros Pisano and Korey Smith have all been injured.

What's City's story? Despite some pundits fancying them for relegation, Johnson's side have been nothing short of magnificent in mounting a sustained challenge for promotion. The Robins kept faith with 36-year-old Johnson and have been rewarded with a string of consistent results. The spirit in the camp has been illustrated by a series of goal graphics on social media that have got everybody talking. 

What's the crowd going to be like? A sell-out, unsurprisingly. United have been allocated only 2,641 tickets, around 10 per cent of the capacity, but you can bet the travelling fans will make themselves heard as always.

What's the history between the clubs? We've met 35 times in the league, with United winning 15 of those, while the most high-profile game was the 1909 FA Cup final, won by Reds striker Sandy Turnbull's goal at Crystal Palace. Our paths have not crossed since 1980, when United won 4-0 at Old Trafford.

Can United retain the trophy? Of course, we won it last year thanks to a 3-2 victory over Southampton at Wembley. We're the last side to keep hold of the silverware after successive wins in 2009 and 2010. Only two other clubs have done likewise - Nottingham Forest (1978 and 1979, 1989 and 1990) and Liverpool, who lifted it four times in succession between 1981 and 1984.

Who is the referee? Mike Dean is well known to United fans and the experienced whistler will be the man in the middle. Graham Scott is the fourth official with Simon Long and Ian Hussin named as the referee's assistants.

Who else is playing? The other ties in midweek - three all-Premier League encounters - are the London derby between Arsenal and West Ham, Leicester City versus Manchester City and Chelsea are at home to Bournemouth.

When's the draw taking place? Ashton Gate will stage the pairings for the semi-finals being drawn out by Phil Neville and Louis Carey. The victors will face a two-legged tie in the week commencing 8 January, with the return fixtures taking place in the week starting 22 January.