Unai Emery was brought to Aston Villa with a reputation as a cup specialist but he has now overseen one of the worst results in the club’s history less than two months into his reign.
Trailing late on to Morgan Sanson’s first-half strike, League Two high-fliers Stevenage produced an upset for the ages thanks to goals from two substitutes, a penalty from Jamie Reid in the 88th minute and the winner from Dean Campbell two minutes later.
They will travel to Stoke in round four after making a mockery of the 59 places that separate the teams in the league system. This was 12 years to the day that Stevenage shocked Newcastle at the same stage of the competition and another moment for their supporters to cherish.
Dean Campbell’s last minute winner for Stevenage knocked Aston Villa out of the FA Cup
Leander Dendoncker conceded a careless error late in the game holding back Campbell
He was sent off and also conceded a penalty that saw Stevenage pull themselves back level
Morgan Sanson polished off a superb team move to put the Villains a goal up vs Stevenage
Boss Steve Evans and his players celebrated at length with the travelling fans as they revelled in a result they fully deserved.
They were well-organised off the ball and had a clear plan when they had it.
‘If my grandson Joseph is still awake when I get home then he’ll want a pillow fight – he’ll be smashing my face,’ smiled Evans.
‘It was magical, one of the best results of my career. Pure FA Cup.
‘I have had wins over Championship clubs as a non-league manager but never away from home against a Premier League club the size of Aston Villa.
‘The players have hearts the size of Big Ben. Winning the FA Cup is what dreams are made of.
‘It’s something for the players to tell their kids and, in the future, their grandchildren.’
This was as a bad as it gets from Villa, who produced a spineless, complacent performance that will have made up Emery’s mind about a number of his squad players.
They were so slack in both boxes – missing chances and marking poorly – and it was no wonder they were booed off at full-time.
Emery has won the Europa League four times but he has now lost both cup games as Villa boss after defeat at Manchester United in the Carabao Cup late last year.
Villa’s dire attitude was summed up by the incident that led to the equaliser. Leander Dendoncker – one of eight changes – collected a short pass from Robin Olsen, who was deputising for Emiliano Martinez, and dawdled, allowing Campbell to rob him.
The red card was inevitable when Dendoncker dragged Campbell back and Reid sent Olsen the wrong way from the spot.
Stevenage forward Jamie Reid levelled from the spot after Dendoncker pulled down Campbell
It was elation for Stevenage after the final whistle who will advance to the fourth round
It’s the first time Stevenage will have reached the Fourth Round since the 2014/15 season
Matty Cash seemed to pull up with a groin injury during the match spelling worries for Emery
Danny Rose could have put the away side 1-0 up in the first half but it was ruled as offside
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Worse was to come when Villa left Campbell alone at a corner, allowing the on-loan Aberdeen midfielder to breeze into the area and beat Olsen at his near post.
Emery was brought here to instil a winning mentality but despite a strong start in the league, which has produced 10 points from five games, this result will have worried him.
‘We have to impose my mentality and idea, and be very demanding,’ said Emery. ‘When a coach first comes to a club, the reaction is excitement and people giving all they can, but being consistent is difficult, keeping the same mentality. I’m not magical. I can’t come here and change everything.’
Stevenage’s excellent form in the league, where they are second and look well set for promotion, meant they came into this game full of confidence.
Philippe Coutinho made his first start under the Villa manager who joined back in October
Villa will rue their missed chances on the night and were not clinical enough in the final third
The home side had a huge let-off when Luke Norris escaped down the left and crossed for Danny Rose to steer beyond Olsen only to be denied by an extremely tight offside call.
Leon Bailey was left in tears after his incredible stoppage-time miss against Wolves last midweek and he was no luckier here, miskicking from close range and then losing his balance in a dangerous crossing position.
By then, however, Villa were 1-0 up as Sanson finished a slick passing move for his first goal for the club, nearly two years after he arrived from Marseille.
Stevenage then came desperately close to an equaliser when Norris cut inside from the left and hit a curling effort from 25 yards that clipped the top of the bar.
Stevenage will now travel to the Bet365 Stadium to play Stoke City in the Fourth Round
There was further bad news for Ludwig Augustinsson, who was also substituted with an injury
Just when the game appeared to be meandering towards a Villa win, Dendoncker was robbed by Campbell as he took a short pass from Olsen. As Campbell advanced on goal, the Belgian midfielder clearly pulled him back and was shown a straight red.
Referee Graham Scott pointed to the spot before a long VAR delay, which nevertheless upheld the decision, deciding the foul had taken place inside the box.
Reid despatched it confidently, sending Olsen the wrong way before celebrating provocatively in front of the Villa fans.
Stevenage then wanted a second penalty when another sub, David Amoo, saw his cross hit Douglas Luiz on the elbow. Their frustration lasted barely a minute, though, as the short corner found Campbell in space and his strike from the angle flew past Olsen at the near post.