Aston Villa marked their return to the FA Cup’s fourth round after an eight-year hiatus, clinching the victory against Middlesbrough with a late, deflected goal from Matty Cash. 

This achievement signifies a significant milestone for the Premier League team, as their last triumph in the competition occurred during the 2015/16 season against Wycombe Wanderers in a third-round replay.

The Riverside Stadium witnessed Villa’s dominance throughout the match, with Jhon Duran testing Tom Glover in the first half and Leander Dendoncker narrowly missing a header. 

Unai Emery’s team continued their attacking prowess in the second half, creating opportunities with John McGinn’s curling effort and Ezri Konsa hitting the post with a header. 

The decisive moment unfolded just two minutes before the final whistle when Matty Cash’s long-range strike deflected off Emmanuel Latte Lath, securing Villa’s place in the next round.

In another FA Cup fixture, Chelsea delivered a second-half onslaught against Preston, claiming a 4-0 victory with goals from Armando Broja, Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling, and Enzo Fernandez. 

The hosts faced a resilient Chelsea defense in the tense opening half at Stamford Bridge, missing opportunities that could have given them a halftime lead.

However, Chelsea broke the deadlock 13 minutes into the second period when Malo Gusto’s precise cross found the head of Armando Broja. 

This marked the beginning of a flurry of three goals in 11 minutes, as Thiago Silva added a second from a corner, and Raheem Sterling curled in a superb free-kick. 

Although Enzo Fernandez’s late fourth initially faced a narrow offside call, a lengthy VAR review ultimately confirmed the goal. 

Chelsea’s dominant performance extends their unbeaten run in domestic cup competitions as they prepare for a midweek clash with Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup.