Stevenage’s manager, Steve Evans, praised his League Two players’ “Big Ben-sized hearts” after they eliminated Aston Villa, 59 places higher in the pyramid, from the FA Cup in the biggest upset of an exciting weekend of third-round surprises.
3,000 Stevenage supporters jubilantly celebrated reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in nine years. As Villa’s new manager, Unai Emery, admitted he may need to start making greater demands of his players. Villa lost 2-1 after leading until Jamie Reid’s 88th-minute penalty. And 3,000 Stevenage supporters raucously celebrated reaching the fourth round for the first time in nine years.
Villa has now lost eight consecutive games in this competition, dating back to 2016. But the glory belongs to Stevenage, whose best finish in the third division was sixth 11 years ago.
Evans, the former manager of Crawley Town and Boston United, stated, “It’s amazing for the players, the chairman. And the town of Stevenage to see almost 3,000 fans, and to win the FA Cup the manner we did is the stuff of dreams.
“I told the players they would have a dream they would tell their children and grandchildren about. Little Joseph, James, and Mimi will hear about my grandchildren in the coming years.”
Morgan Sanson had given Villa the lead in the first half. But Emery, who formerly coached Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain, criticized his team’s lack of precision finishing.
Stevenage boss Evans celebrates Aston Villa win.
To their credit, Stevenage maintained a compact formation, with a midfield square in front of the back four. And restricted Villa’s playing space. Stevenage went for broke when Leander Dendoncker was sent off for giving the penalty. And Dean Campbell scored the game-winning goal in the final minute.
Evans continued, “We remained in the game, and our game plan all week was to be in the game at the 75-minute mark.” If we were still in the game at the 75-minute mark, I knew we had an incredibly fit bunch. And that I could use the players with Big Ben-sized hearts.”
Villa’s players were commended for their sportsmanship after the game. And substituting World Cup champion Emi Martnez was on Evans’ mind. Martnez played on loan at Rotherham United during Evans’ time there. Afterwards, Emi offered us a hug,” Evans recalled. “If you’re Emi Martínez, you’ll be haunted. “When I looked at Ashley Young’s face, I saw pain and even humiliation.”
Emery stated, “I’m saddened, dismayed, and sorry for our supporters. We have squandered an excellent opportunity to do something in the FA Cup.
“This is a process, and I will remain demanding. Perhaps I should be more demanding now. I am quite surprised. However, this might occur when you have good scoring opportunities but fail to convert.”
