LONDON – Aston Villa booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2016 with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Jan 6, and manager Unai Emery said his high-flying English Premier League club have developed a big-game mentality.
Despite their impressive league form this season, Villa were not expected to have an easy game against the Championship side, given their recent record in the FA Cup, a competition in which they have lost their last eight matches.
Villa, who trail leaders Liverpool by just three points in second place in the league, have won the Cup seven times, but not since 1957.
“We played with big passion, being mature. I think we are growing up, our mentality in matches like that,” Emery said.
“At the beginning, we were favourites to win, but difficult to face each match.
“We were being passionate and trying to keep in mind our game plan...
“We pushed in the last minutes because we took two or three chances and we scored one of them.”
The sides appeared destined for a replay before defender Matty Cash broke the deadlock in the 87th minute with his fourth goal of the season, a powerful shot from just outside the 18-yard box that deflected in off Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath.
“A goal is a goal, so I am buzzing with it,” he told the BBC.
“I have worked on it in training outside the box to finish. We have worked on having three around the edge and my instinct was to shoot.”
Emery said Villa are trying to give themselves another chance at winning silverware.
“We were speaking before the match about the FA Cup... We’re speaking about our players, how much they were successful in this competition – not a lot! Only Emiliano Martinez and Calum Chambers won with Arsenal,” he said.
“A long time Villa were successful in this competition with seven titles. We are here trying to do another step ahead in this club, trying to play in different competitions and trying to be contending to get something.”
Also on Jan 6, striker Armando Broja set Chelsea on their way to a 4-0 FA Cup third-round win over Championship side Preston North End, answering manager Mauricio Pochettino’s call for the Albanian to seize his chance.
Broja, 22, whose season has been limited by injury and the presence of Nicolas Jackson, currently on national duty with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, scored Chelsea’s opener in the 58th minute with a deft header. Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling and Enzo Fernandez then found the net for the Blues.
Said Pochettino: “It was really important for him...
“He needs to use this type of game to score and to feel the net and to improve. Improve not only in his fitness but his body language also. He needs to step up and to go forward and to move. He needs to smile more and be more positive.
“The potential is amazing. We’re talking about one of the young strikers in England and in Europe with the most potential.” REUTERS
