Matty Cash’s 87th minute winner saw Aston Villa scrape a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough in the Third Round of 2023-24 FA Cup.
Cash smashed in the winning goal via Emmanuel Latte Lath’s 87th minute deflection to seal a narrow win for Villa, who had dominated the contest amidst tense defensive pressure from Boro.
Jhon Duran had earlier produced the best chances for Villa which included a 53rd minute header that bounced off the far-right post.
Villa are now in the hat for the Fourth Round draw and ended a run of Third Round exits which stretched back to the 2016-17 season, with the draw set to be held on Monday 8 January at approximately 7:50pm GMT.
Having crashed at this stage in the last seven consecutive seasons, Aston Villa enjoyed a strong start and almost took an eighth minute lead, as Jacob Ramsey teed up Duran whose shot was saved by Tom Glover.
Villa continued to dominate possession thereafter against a resilient Boro who were set up to play on the defensive, with Unai Emery Villains constantly closed down as Matty Cash and Leander Dendoncker saw a shot and header respectively go wide whilst Duran saw another shot saved.
Boro meanwhile offered brief glimpses of their attacking threat as Morgan Rogers’ 35th minute shot was saved, but the hosts managed to hold out until half-time with the score still deadlocked despite Isiah Jones bundling Rogers’ 45th minute cross wide.
With no changes during the break, Villa continued their dominance early in the second half but Glover flicked McGinn’s 49th minute curled strike over the bar.
Duran four minutes later saw his header from a corner ricochet off the right-post, with Alex Moreno’s shot blasted over from a subsequent corner barely a minute later.
Moreno saw appeals for a 57th minute penalty denied after he was fouled by Jones, only for referee – Robert Jones to snub his complaint.
Both teams proceeded to make changes in search of a winner which almost fell Villa’s way in the 84th minute, but substitute – Nicolo Zaniolo curled wide in a huge chance for the Premier League title challengers.
Villa eventually weren’t denied as a 87th minute corner kick was played short across to Cash, who unleashed a long-range shot which deflected in via Latte Lath’s back.
Boro attempted to find a late equaliser in injury time but Villa clung on to reach the Fourth Round for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.
What’s Next?
Boro now turn their attention to the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea, which too takes place at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday 9 January at 8pm GMT.
Villa meanwhile visit Everton at Goodison Park in a Premier League clash on Sunday 14 January in a 2pm GMT kick-off.
Team News
Middlesbrough: Tom Glover, Rav van den Berg, Matthew Clarke, Lukas Engel, Alex Bangura (Coulson 83′), Daniel Barlaser (Gilbert 83′), Hayden Hackney (Howson 59′), Sam Greenwood, Isaiah Jones (Fry 83′), Josh Coburn (Latte Lath 59′), Morgan Rogers
Substitutes: Jamie Jones, Dael Fry, Emmanuel Latte Lath, Alex Gilbert, Jonny Howson, Hayden Coulson, Matt Crooks, Law McCabe, Aj Bridge
Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Clement Lenglet, Alex Moreno, John McGinn (Diaby 70′), Boubacar Kamara, Leander Dendoncker (Douglas Luiz 70′), Jacob Ramsey, Leon Bailey (Zaniolo 69′), Jhon Duran (Watkins 70′)
Substitutes: Filip Marschall, Sam Proctor, Diego Carlos, Douglas Luiz, Ollie Watkins, Moussa Diaby, Nicolo Zaniolo, Tim Iroegbunam
Referee – Robert Jones
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