Match Review: Boro 0 Aston Villa 1

A cruel last-gasp winner knocked Boro out of the Emirates FA Cup at the Third Round stage.

Pitted against high-flying Aston Villa, the Teessiders matched the Premier League outfit across the pitch before Matty Cash's deflected strike settled the tie.

Michael Carrick’s threadbare side welcomed Hayden Hackney back into the line-up for a first appearance since the end of November.

The midfielder, who was also handed the armband for the first time in his career, joined Alex Bangura in two alterations from the New Year’s Day XI.

The arrival of Aston Villa signalled the start of a hectic week for the Teessiders with Premier League opposition also to come in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final.

Ahead of kick-off, a period of applause rang around the Riverside to remember the life of former Chief Executive Keith Lamb, who oversaw one of the most decorated periods in the club’s history – including the 2004 League Cup triumph and successive UEFA Cup campaigns.

With 30 places separating the sides in the English Football pyramid, it was perhaps unsurprising that the visitors, currently occupying 2^nd in the top-flight, carved out the game’s first opening, Tom Glover down quickly to deny Jhon Duran at his near post.

When Villa next ventured forward, a host of bodies was enough to dismantle Matty Cash’s drive. At the other end, the Polish international acted decisively to halt Alex Bangura’s surge upfield.

And while Unai Emery’s men saw the majority of possession, they were struggling to concoct a way past a resilient Boro backline - Ramsey deflected over, Dendoncker’s header was tipped upwards and Glover got a big hand to turn away Duran’s fierce effort.

Though Boro were not without chances of their own, Morgan Rogers came close with a shot expertly saved by Emiliano Martinez before sending a volley wide of the target.

The Teessiders continued to grow in the contest and the final chance of the first half fell the way of Isaiah Jones, who connected with Bangura’s inviting cross but could only turn beyond the post.

Looking to catch Boro off guard with a short corner routine upon the restart, John McGinn’s shot seemed destined for the top corner until Glover’s intervention.

Villa continued to threaten from set-pieces, Ezri Konsa hit the post with a deft header and Alex Moreno blazed over at the back post.  

That proved the trigger for the Riverside crowd to up the decibels and Rogers led the appeals for a penalty when under pressure from Cash in the area.

Having played almost an hour upon his return to the side, Hackney made way for Jonny Howson as part of a double switch that also saw Emmanuel Latte Lath introduced.

And it was a sign of Boro’s competence that the visitors enacted a quadruple switch not shortly after, which encompassed a combined 28 goals in all competitions this season – including top scorer Ollie Watkins.

As the game entered its final stages, Lukas Engel unleashed Latte Lath to bare down on the Villa goal. The result was pandemonium inside the area as he raced clear and got a touch ahead of the onrushing Emiliano Martinez, but the ball somehow held up for him to grasp at the second attempt.

More Villa pressure was to come. Moussa Diaby mis-hit from 12 yards and fellow substitute Nicolo Zaniolo bent beyond the upright.

And Boro would suffer a cruel blow just minutes from time, Cash’s deflected strike creeping beyond an outstretched Glover to settle the tie.