Villa FA Cup semi-final clashes

Aston Villa compete in the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 10 years on Saturday, taking on Crystal Palace under the Wembley arch.

Unai Emery’s side will be looking to deliver a major domestic trophy to B6 for the first time since 1996, having last won the FA Cup back in 1957.

Since then, the Villans have made the semi-finals of the prestigious, historic competition on six occasions, progressing to the final twice.

To do so on Saturday, they must overcome a Palace side bidding to win the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history, having finished runners up in 1990 and 2016.

Here, we look at the six semi-final clashes Villa have contested since last lifting the trophy…

1959 – Nottingham Forest 1-0 Aston Villa (Hillsborough)

Just two years after Peter McParland inspired Villa to lifting the 1957 FA Cup, they were back at the semi-final stage, taking on Forest in Sheffield.

The Villans had the better of a goalless first half, but saw their opponents grow into the second period as it wore on, snatching the lead late on as Tommy Wilson centred for Johnny Quigley, and he made no mistake in firing past Nigel Sims in the Villa goal.

Forest advanced to the final at Wembley, where early goals from Wilson and Roy Dwight helped seal a 2-1 victory over Luton Town, and their second FA Cup crown.

1960 – Aston Villa 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (The Hawthorns)

The year after, Villa reached a second consecutive FA Cup semi-final, this time meeting midlands rivals Wolves at the home of West Bromwich Albion.

The game was only half an hour old when the only goal was struck. The Villans could only partially clear Jimmy Murray’s ball into the box, allowing Norman Deeley to pounce and put Wolves in front.

They would go on to beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0 in the final, with Deeley at the double, while sealing a second-placed finish in the First Division to qualify for the 1960/61 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

1996 – Aston Villa 0-3 Liverpool (Old Trafford)

Villa would have to wait 36 years before appearing in another FA Cup semi-final, as they clashed with Liverpool at Manchester United’s Old Trafford home in the 1995/96 season.

For Brian Little’s side, it was a day to forget. Gareth Southgate’s injury hampered Villa, who fell behind on 16 minutes when Robbie Fowler headed Jamie Redknapp’s free-kick home. It was his 32nd goal of that season, and fourth against Villa, maintaining his record of having scored in every round of the competition up to that point.

Little’s men gave as good as they got in Manchester in search of an equaliser, but in committing men forward, succumbed to another two late goals – Fowler firing a half-volley past Mark Bosnich for his second of the game, before Jason McAteer added a third in stoppage time.

The Reds were sunk in the Wembley final by a late Eric Cantona winner which wrapped up Man United’s ninth FA Cup title. For Villa, the season didn’t end without silverware, after they had already claimed the League Cup with a 3-0 final win over Leeds United just a week prior.

2000 – Bolton Wanderers 0-0 Aston Villa (1-4 pens) (Wembley)

Four years later, Villa met Bolton behind the Twin Towers of the old Wembley Stadium, as the two sides battled for a place in the first FA Cup final of the millennium.

A tense affair remained goalless for 120 minutes – with the Villans reduced to 10 players in extra-time after Mark Delaney picked up a second yellow card – meaning a penalty shoot-out would be required to decide who advanced.

Goalkeeper David James was Villa’s hero, guessing the right way and saving from both Allan Johnston and Michael Johansen. Steve Stone, Lee Hendrie and Gareth Barry had all buried their efforts for John Gregory’s men, meaning Dion Dublin had the opportunity to send his side to the final.

The forward duly obliged, though it was to be disappointment at the last hurdle for the Villans, as Roberto Di Matteo’s second-half strike in the final clinched the cup for Chelsea and ensured Villa’s wait to win the famous competition continued.

2010 – Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea (Wembley)

Villa would again meet the Blues at Wembley 10 years later, though this time at the semi-final stage, in what was their second appearance under the arch of the new incarnation of the national stadium after a narrow defeat to Manchester United in the League Cup final less than two months prior.

Martin O’Neill’s side battled well against the West London outfit, and were adamant they should have had a penalty in the opening period when Gabby Agbonlahor was bundled over in the box by John Obi Mikel.

But Carlo Ancelotti’s men grew stronger after the break, Didier Drogba breaking the deadlock midway through the opening period before late goals from Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard ensured the Villans would go no further.

Chelsea made the final for a second consecutive season, and won their second consecutive FA Cup, beating Portsmouth 1-0 in the final to tie up a league and cup double.

 2015 – Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool (Wembley)

And five years later would come Villa’s most recent appearance in an FA Cup semi-final, when they met Liverpool under the Wembley arch 10 years ago.

Tim Sherwood’s side fell behind with half an hour on the clock when future Villan Philippe Coutinho burst into the box and poked the ball past Shay Given and in.

But Villa’s response was almost instant, and within six minutes, they were level. Fabian Delph exchanged passes with Jack Grealish and found Christian Benteke in the centre, who finished off a fine team move by side-footing home.

And Delph would get his own name on the scoresheet within 10 minutes of the restart, cutting inside the area and firing in at the near post for the would-be winner, to deservedly send Villa to the final.

Sherwood’s side again fell at the final hurdle when back at Wembley a month later, as a dominant display from Arsenal saw them triumph 4-0 and lift the trophy for the 12th time, ensuring Villa’s wait for silverware would continue.