Aston Villa Narrowly Defeat Wycombe Wanderers to Progress to Fourth Round of Carabao Cup
On a crisp Tuesday night under the floodlights at Villa Park, Aston Villa triumphed over Wycombe Wanderers in a tightly contested Carabao Cup tie, securing their place in the fourth round with a 2-1 victory. Though Villa entered the match as clear favourites, Wycombe proved to be resilient opposition, pushing the Premier League side to the brink in what was a thrilling and nervy encounter.
From the opening whistle, Aston Villa’s superior quality was apparent. Manager Unai Emery had rotated his squad, resting several first-team regulars but still fielding a team full of talent, including youngsters eager to impress. Villa’s attack looked sharp early on, with Ollie Watkins and Bertrand Traoré threatening the Wycombe defence with quick movement and slick passing. The Villans controlled possession, playing at a high tempo and creating numerous chances.
Wycombe Wanderers, known for their physical and organised style of play, set up with a deep defensive line, hoping to frustrate Villa’s attacking flow. Their disciplined defensive approach worked well in the opening 20 minutes, keeping Villa at bay and forcing them into long-range efforts that rarely troubled goalkeeper Max Stryjek.
However, Villa’s pressure eventually paid off. In the 29th minute, they found the breakthrough. Traoré, who had been a constant menace down the right wing, whipped in a dangerous cross that found Watkins at the far post. The forward made no mistake, powering a header into the back of the net to give Villa a deserved 1-0 lead.
Despite the goal, Wycombe remained resolute and managed to keep the deficit to a single goal heading into the break. They even posed the occasional threat on the counterattack, with winger Garath McCleary testing Villa’s goalkeeper, Robin Olsen, on a couple of occasions.
The second half saw Wycombe emerge with renewed determination. Manager Matt Bloomfield made a tactical shift, encouraging his team to press higher up the pitch and put Villa’s defence under more pressure. This change paid dividends early on as Wycombe began to carve out more opportunities.
In the 55th minute, Wycombe got their reward for their positive approach. After a period of sustained pressure, the ball broke to forward Sam Vokes just outside the box. Vokes, a veteran of many battles, took one touch to control before rifling a powerful shot into the bottom corner, beating Olsen and bringing the Chairboys level at 1-1.
The equaliser injected belief into the League One side, and for the next 15 minutes, they took the game to Villa, looking like the more dangerous side. Vokes and McCleary continued to trouble Villa’s backline, with Olsen called into action multiple times to prevent Wycombe from taking the lead.
Sensing the momentum shifting in Wycombe’s favour, Unai Emery made a series of substitutions to regain control of the match. The introduction of midfielders John McGinn and Douglas Luiz added more steel and creativity to Villa’s midfield, allowing them to regain their foothold in the game.
As the clock ticked down, it seemed as though extra time might be on the cards. But in the 82nd minute, Villa finally broke Wycombe’s resistance once more. After a flowing team move, the ball was worked to substitute Jhon Durán, who found space on the edge of the box. Durán unleashed a low, driven shot that deflected off a defender, wrong-footing Stryjek and finding the back of the net to restore Villa’s lead at 2-1.
Wycombe, to their credit, refused to give up and threw bodies forward in search of another equaliser. But Villa’s defence, marshalled by Tyrone Mings and Matty Cash, held firm in the final minutes, ensuring that the Premier League side avoided a potential upset.
The final whistle brought relief to Villa Park, with Aston Villa securing a hard-fought 2-1 win to advance to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Unai Emery’s side showed their quality in spells, but credit must be given to Wycombe Wanderers, who pushed them all the way and were unfortunate not to force extra time.
For Villa, the result means they continue their quest for silverware this season, with the Carabao Cup offering a realistic opportunity to add to their trophy cabinet. The match also provided valuable minutes for several squad players and youngsters, with the likes of Traoré and Durán impressing in their roles.
Wycombe Wanderers, meanwhile, can hold their heads high. They may have bowed out of the competition, but their performance against a Premier League side will give them confidence as they continue their League One campaign.
Aston Villa now look forward to the next round, where tougher challenges likely await, but for now, they can celebrate overcoming a tricky test on a night when Wycombe Wanderers came close to causing a major upset.
