City snatched a deserved draw in a dramatic end to the match, Micah Richards’ unstoppable header in the 93rd minute seeing them into the hat for the 6th round draw. The men in yellow had had the best of the match but looked to be going out after Baros’ goal, but justice was seen to be done.
Team news: Samaras came in for Cole, Sibierski replaced Sinclair on the right, and Jordan returned for Sommeil at left back. Villa had Angel & Phillips on the bench, with Baros & Moore up front.
Around 6,000 City fans made the trip down the M6 and responded to Stuart Pearce’s request to make it like a home game in a fantastic manner as the teams emerged into a bitterly cold night.
City were wearing their ‘blaze yellow’ away kit.
City had the best of the opening few minutes, and their first meaningful attack ended when Delaney went down injured after challenging Samaras. Vassell, booed by many of his former fans, had a good opening after five minutes but under pressure from Delaney he fired wide from a tight-ish angle.
Backed by raucous chants of ‘feed the Greek’, Samaras homed in on goal after eight minutes but he chose to shoot when Riera was pleading for the ball, the shot going straight at Sorensen.
Richards showed why he has made the elevation to the first team after 12 minutes, perfectly timing a challenge to deny Baros.
Two minutes later Riera fired in a cross that Sorensen fumbled, Samuel sparing his blushes by heading for a corner. Distin collected Barton’s kick on his chest, but could not match Richard Dunne’s goal last week, instead finding row Z in the Holte End.
Musampa whipped in a good free kick on 17 minutes, Sorensen punching to Riera who fired well wide. Seconds later, Vassell had a golden chance to score when he broke through and was one-on-one with the Villa keeper, but after trying to deceive Sorensen with fancy footwork, the Dane guessed right and grabbed the ball to deny his former team mate.
Vassell robbed Delaney and tore towards goal on 24, but again to the delight of the home fans he could not make anything of the chance. 60 seconds later, another Musampa free kick asked questions and Sibierski’s header went just a yard wide of Sorensen’s left post.
And the big Dane was forced to work a minute after that, when Vassell released Barton, whose shot was heading towards the right corner when the keeper fingertipped it just wide. Sibierski headed wide from the corner, but it was mostly City now, to the audible chagrin of the home fans.
Dunne was booked for a foul on Baros on the half-hour.
Villa had their best spell now, forcing a few corners which City were able to repel.
Vassell had another moment to forget on 38 minutes, treading on the ball when he could have released Sibierski on goal.
Mellberg was booked on 42 for catching Riera. Sibierski was close with a header from a cross from Richards, impressive again.
City went into the break level but surely wondering how they were not several goals to the good.
The second half began, like the first, with an amazing amount of noise coming from the City fans in the Doug Ellis Stand.
Richards was fouled near the box after 52 minutes, and Sibierski headed over from Musampa’s resulting free kick. Shortly after Samaras kept Sorensen honest when he tried to charge down a clearance kick.
Milner, probably Villa’s best player so far, tried his luck from 20 yards after 56 minutes but James watched the ball drift two yards wide.
Samaras again chased a lost-looking cause a minute later, hooking the ball over from near the by-line.
Musampa fired a shot in from the edge of the box on 58 minutes after a good build-up on the left, but a Villa leg deflected it wide. Two minutes later McCann looked to be in a threatening position, but his shot bobbled harmlessly wide to the left of the goals.
Angel replaced Moore after 63 minutes, just after James had beaten away a Villa free kick.
Villa conceded a corner thanks to Barry when he chested away a good Musampa cross. Chaos ensued in the next couple of minutes, with Richards having a header cleared off the line, then Distin having a fierce shot deflected away when it was heading goalwards.
But then, totally against the run of play, Villa took the lead. Davis fed Milan Baros who tore into the box and smashed the ball into the corner of the net, to the widespread disbelief of all City followers.
The home fans had finally found their voice now, and the game became frantic as City chased an equalizer. Barton was booked with 11 minutes left, and Croft replaced Sibierski.
Angel had a chance to finish it off with eight minutes left after collecting from Davis, but he fired well over. Vassell came off for Wright-Phillips with 83 on the clock, receiving a mixed reception.
With the clock showing 85, Riera was in with a chance but he dragged the left-footed effort across the box and wide.
There were just two minutes left when Wright-Phillips had a chance, but his shot-on-the-turn was yards wide of the goal.
Three minutes were added on, and then right at the end City got the equalizer they so richly deserved!!
Barton floated in a corner which Micah Richards met first time to power the ball past Sorensen!
In the chaotic celebrations that followed, Richards was booked but he surely could not care less! The City fans went beserk at the goal that went in right in front of them, and the game ended on the restart, to see City rightly get another chance at home on a date to be decided.
