Aston Villa won an FA Cup tie for the first time since 2016 after Matty Cash hit a late winner at Middlesbrough.
Championship club Boro were close to earning a replay when Cash’s attempt from outside the box took a heavy deflection and beat Tom Glover.
Australian keeper Glover had earlier frustrated the Premier League visitors at a vibrant Riverside Stadium with a string of saves to keep out young Colombia forward Jhon Duran (twice) and captain John McGinn.
Villa’s frustrations grew when Ezri Konsa’s glancing header bounced back off a post before Poland full-back Cash struck his fourth goal of the season in three different competitions.
It earned Villa, seven-time FA Cup winners who last lifted the trophy in 1957, a first victory in the competition since defeating League Two Wycombe in a third-round replay in 2016.
They had suffered eight straight defeats and been on the wrong end of upsets against League One Peterborough in 2018 and League Two Stevenage in 2023.
“We were speaking before the match about the FA Cup, a very historic cup competition, maybe the best cup competition in the world,” said Villa boss Unai Emery.
“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.
“A long time Aston Villa was successful in this competition with seven titles. Of course we are here trying to do another step ahead in this club.”
Middlesbrough have already enjoyed one impressive cup run this season after reaching the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, where they face Chelsea over two legs on Tuesday and 23 January.
But they managed just one attempt on target when Martinez kept out Morgan Rogers before half-time.
Villa, second in the Premier League, felt they should have won a penalty when Isaiah Jones clipped Alex Moreno in the second half.
But with no video assistant referee (VAR) in operation at grounds outside the Premier League, play was allowed to carry on.
With a replay at Villa Park looming, Cash found the net following an assist by substitute Douglas Luiz.
Reaction from Middlesbrough-Aston Villa, plus the rest of Saturday’s FA Cup tiesHow did you rate Aston Villa’s performance? Have your say here
Aston Villa have won the FA Cup seven times but not since 1957
Relief as Villa get the job done
There was understandable relief from Emery and his players when referee Robert Jones blew the final whistle, sparking celebrations from Villa’s travelling fans.
They have waited a long time to see their side win a match in the competition and can now look forward to Monday’s fourth-round draw.
Although Ollie Watkins started on the substitutes bench, the Villa boss fielded a strong side.
The tie was still in the balance by the time the England forward was introduced with 20 minutes to go.
Nicolo Zaniolo, another substitute, went close with a curling attempt from distance before Cash added to goals he had scored this season in the Premier League (2) and Europa Conference League.
Player of the match
GloverTom Glover
with an average of 6.75
Middlesbrough
Squad number23Player nameGlover
Squad number16Player nameHowson
Squad number3Player namevan den Berg
Squad number24Player nameBangura
Squad number4Player nameBarlaser
Squad number5Player nameClarke
Squad number9Player nameLatte Lath
Squad number7Player nameHackney
Squad number10Player nameRogers
Squad number19Player nameCoburn
Squad number11Player nameJones
Squad number27Player nameEngel
Squad number29Player nameGreenwood
Squad number22Player nameCoulson
Squad number14Player nameGilbert
Squad number6Player nameFry
Aston Villa
Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
Squad number2Player nameCash
Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Squad number11Player nameWatkins
Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey
Squad number44Player nameKamara
Squad number15Player nameÁlex Moreno
Squad number4Player nameKonsa
Squad number22Player nameZaniolo
Squad number1Player nameE Martínez
Squad number31Player nameBailey
Squad number32Player nameDendoncker
Squad number17Player nameLenglet
Squad number19Player nameDiaby
Squad number24Player nameDurán
Line-ups
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-2-3-1
23Glover
3van den Berg5Clarke27Engel24Bangura
4Barlaser7Hackney
11Jones10Rogers29Greenwood
19Coburn
23Glover3van den Berg5Clarke27Engel24BanguraSubstituted forCoulsonat 83’minutes4BarlaserSubstituted forGilbertat 83’minutes7HackneySubstituted forHowsonat 59’minutes11JonesBooked at 23minsSubstituted forFryat 83’minutes10Rogers29Greenwood19CoburnSubstituted forLatte Lathat 59’minutesSubstitutes6Fry9Latte Lath14Gilbert16Howson22Coulson25Crooks32Jones49McCabe52Bridge
Aston Villa
Formation 4-2-3-1
1E Martínez
2Cash17Lenglet4Konsa15Moreno
44Kamara32Dendoncker
31Bailey7McGinn41J Ramsey
24Durán
1E Martínez2CashBooked at 74mins17LengletBooked at 82mins4KonsaBooked at 37mins15Moreno44Kamara32DendonckerSubstituted forDouglas Luizat 70’minutes31BaileyBooked at 40minsSubstituted forZanioloat 69’minutesBooked at 80mins7McGinnSubstituted forDiabyat 70’minutes41J Ramsey24DuránSubstituted forWatkinsat 70’minutesSubstitutes3Diego Carlos6Douglas Luiz11Watkins19Diaby22Zaniolo42Marschall47Iroegbunam78Proctor
Referee:Robert Jones
Attendance:25,022
Live Text
Match ends, Middlesbrough 0, Aston Villa 1.
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 0, Aston Villa 1.
Offside, Middlesbrough. Sam Greenwood is caught offside.
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jacob Ramsey.
Attempt blocked. Alex Gilbert (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Offside, Middlesbrough. Dael Fry is caught offside.
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Boubacar Kamara.
Foul by Moussa Diaby (Aston Villa).
Hayden Coulson (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alex Gilbert (Middlesbrough).
Goal! Middlesbrough 0, Aston Villa 1. Matty Cash (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Douglas Luiz following a corner.
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Rav van den Berg.
Attempt missed. Nicolò Zaniolo (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Boubacar Kamara.
Offside, Middlesbrough. Dael Fry is caught offside.
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Hayden Coulson replaces Alex Bangura.
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Dael Fry replaces Isaiah Jones.
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alex Gilbert replaces Daniel Barlaser.
Clément Lenglet (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Clément Lenglet (Aston Villa).
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