Cash happy with decisive strike as Villa reach FA Cup fourth round

Matty Cash was grateful his goal helped Aston Villa progress to the FA Cup fourth round for the first time in eight years.

Villa were handed a tricky third-round tie at Middlesbrough but edged the contest as Cash's deflected strike in the 87th minute proved to be the decisive blow.

Right-back Cash told BBC Sport: "A goal is a goal, so I am buzzing with it.

"I have worked on it in training outside the box to finish. We have worked on having three around the edge and my instinct was to shoot.

"Boro are a tough team and have a top manager. They are doing well in the Championship and the main priority for us was to get the win.

"In the first half, we found some good spaces on the left and the game plan was to continue that. It took some time but we finally got there."

The 26-year-old Poland international added: "The manager had made it clear in the hotel that we had not done well in this competition.

"The manager is so good at that. Whatever competition we are in, we go out and do our best to get the result. 

"In Europe, we are doing well and the Premier League and tonight as well."

Boro sit 12th in the Championship table but have enjoyed a fine run to the Carabao Cup semi-finals this season, where they will host Chelsea in Tuesday night's first leg.

Boss Michael Carrick said: "The disappointment the lads are feeling shows how well we performed in the game. 

"It was not easy against such a good team. We had good moments. When we had the chance to play we had some good connections and looked dangerous at times.

"I feel for the boys. They put a lot of effort in but it will give us a lot of confidence going into next week's Carabao Cup semi-final.

"We look forward to it. It is a massive opportunity for us and we will give it our best."