FA Cup 2022/23: How Stevenage pulled off a monumental upset against Villa – tactical analysis

The FA Cup. A magical competition. While some may argue that the competition has lost some of its spark in the modern game and that some of the “bigger” clubs don’t treat it with the respect it deserves, the magic still remains, and it still provides us with some sensational giant-killer stories. We have seen a number of these already in the current edition of the cup, and perhaps the most surprising is EFL League Two Stevenage coming from behind to beat Premier League Aston Villa.

In this tactical analysis, we will look at Aston Villa’s tactics on the ball and why they were unable to put the game to bed, along with a discussion about Stevenage’s defensive tactics. There will also be a brief analysis of Stevenage’s actions in possession; brief because Stevenage really didn’t see much of the ball! With Villa’s Leander Dendoncker being sent off in the 85^th minute, Stevenage went on to score twice after that event, so there will also be an analysis of how they took advantage of that.

Lineups

Unai Emery deployed a 4-3-3 shape with the intent of controlling the game and having a high attacking presence. As may be expected in a cup game, Villa made a few changes to their lineup from their 1-1 draw against Wolves earlier in the week.

Emery changed the entire defensive unit, including the goalkeeper. World Cup winner Emi Martínez was rested, with Swedish keeper Robin Olsen playing between the sticks. Olsen’s Sweden compatriot Ludwig Augustinsson replaced Lucas Digne in the left-back spot, with Matty Cash coming in at right back. In the heart of the back four, former Arsenal player Calum Chambers lined up alongside Jan Bednarek.

In midfield, the eventually-sent-off Dendoncker operated as the deeper midfielder of the trio, with Douglas Luiz and Morgan Sansone playing higher up in the engine room. The attack consisted of Phillipe Coutinho on the left flank, and Leon Bailey on the right, with ex-Liverpool forward Danny Ings playing in the middle.

Stevenage boss Steve Evans set his side up in a 5-3-2 formation with the aim of soaking up pressure and utilising attacking transitions. This isn’t out of the ordinary for Evans’ men as they deploy this formation in league fixtures, but of course, the emphasis on defending was more so than usual. Villa dominated large portions of this game, registering 79% possession and over 500 passes more than Stevenage, but this isn’t something totally alien to the League Two promotion hopefuls. This season in League Two, Evans’ side has averaged less possession and passes than their opponent so far.

In terms of names, there was just one change in the starting 11 from their previous league game – a 1-0 victory over Gillingham. That change came in midfield, with Jake Taylor coming into the side, replacing Alex Gilby. Interestingly, both goals came from the bench, with substitutes Dean Campbell and Jamie Reid grabbing the goals that made history for their club.