Stevenage stun Villa with incredible late comeback | ‘One to tell the grandkids’

© Getty Dean Campbell celebrates his late winner for Stevenage against Aston Villa

League Two club Stevenage produced an incredible late turnaround by scoring twice in three minutes to dump Aston Villa out of the FA Cup.

Villa were on course for victory after Morgan Sanson fired them into a first-half lead despite a below-par performance against a side 59 places below them.

But it all changed when Leander Dendoncker was sent off in the 85th minute after losing the ball on the edge of his own area and hauling down substitute Dean Campbell inside the box, with the VAR confirming the decision. Jamie Reid, also off the bench, stepped up and nervelessly converted the spot kick.

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Not content with a replay, Stevenage then won the tie when Villa switched off in the 90th minute at a corner, allowing Campbell to collect the ball short before firing past Robin Olsen, who should have done better.

Boro will head to Stoke in the fourth round on the weekend of January 28/29.

How Stevenage stunned Villa

Stevenage frustrated Aston Villa in the first half and went within a whisker of taking the lead. Danny Rose tapped in at the end of a precise move but after a VAR check, Luke Norris, who provided the assist, was offside in the build-up.

Villa had been restricted to long-range efforts until they put together a quick passing move that unlocked Boro. Philippe Coutinho found Douglas Luiz, he passed to Leon Bailey, who gave it to Danny Ings, and the striker’s first-time pass set Sanson in behind to finish low past Taye Ashby-Hammond.

Stevenage, though, nearly scored a superb equaliser as Norris’ bending effort from the left side of the box, grazed the top of the crossbar with Olsen well beaten.

Villa began the second half with greater purpose as Bailey volleyed wide from close range within 60 seconds of the restart. Calum Chambers also poked just off-target from a low Coutinho cross along the six-yard box.

Stevenage always looked threatening when they went forward, but it was a mistake from Dendoncker which sparked the turnaround. The midfielder was robbed of the ball by Campbell and hauled him down as he entered the box. Reid made sure Boro capitalised on the double punishment by sending Olsen the wrong way.

Then came a memorable FA Cup moment as Campbell drove the ball low and hard past Olsen at his near post to send the 3,000 Stevenage supporters into dreamland.

Emery: I’m sorry for our supporters

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery: “We have to continue the process, be very demanding like I was but maybe more now.

“Each match is giving us more information. I want to work with the players, I want to create a bigger mentality. Sometimes it (losing) could be the first step.

“We can’t think we are better and we are Aston Villa and they are in League Two. I am upset, disappointed, I’m sorry for our supporters.

“When they score the last five minutes we were upset and didn’t control our minds. I know sometimes we have to lose and to take mistakes. We have to use it to learn as soon as possible thinking we can create a new way.”

Evans: What dreams are made of

Stevenage manager Steve Evans: “I’ve got grandkids, little Joseph, James and Mimi will be hearing about this in the next few years.

“I’ve had some magical moments, I’ve been in charge of lots of wins over Championship clubs but if you come away to a Premier League club like Aston Villa…it’s up there with them.

“It’s magical for the players, the chairman and for the town of Stevenage to see over 3,000 fans and winning the way we did, it’s the FA Cup and what dreams are made of.

“I said to the players they will have a dream they will talk to the kids and grandkids about.

“We stayed in the game and the plan all week was make sure we were in the game at 75 minutes. If we were in the game at 75 minutes I knew we had an incredibly fit group and I could use the lads who have hearts the size of Big Ben.”

What’s next?

Aston Villa return to Premier League action at home to Leeds on Friday, live on Sky Sports at 8pm, as they look to continue their climb towards the top half.

Stevenage head to Harrogate on Saturday in League Two. Kick-off at 3pm.

Luke Norris’ audacious curling effort grazes the top of the crossbar

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