Anthony Onifade

Mon 8 January 2024 10:10, UK

Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash sent manager Unai Emery a strong message over his spot at Villa Park after a tremendous all-round display against Middlesbrough.

The Villans won an FA Cup tie for the first time since 2016 after the Polish international hit a late winner at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday (6 January).

Championship club Boro were close to earning a replay when Cash’s attempt from outside the box took a heavy deflection and beat Tom Glover in the home goal.

It earned Villa, seven-time FA Cup winners who last lifted the trophy in 1957, a first victory in the competition since defeating League Two Wycombe in a third-round replay in January 2016.

It had proved an unwanted curse at Villa Park that the club had failed to win a game in England’s most prestigious cup competition for eight years but the Villans certainly had Cash to thank not just for his goal, but his all-round brilliance throughout.

Cash has undergone something of a Jekyll and Hyde type of form so far this campaign and has been dropped at numerous points this season with Emery favouring Ezri Konsa as a right-back.

The Pole’s absences from the line-up have led to several rumours flying around that Emery will be ongoing a search for a replacement in the January transfer window.

The Athletic reported on 3 January that there is a growing feeling at Villa Park that the Spaniard wants to strengthen in the position with Emery wanting an upgrade there since his appointment in November 2022.

Such reports will have given Cash plenty to ponder over his recent displays in an Aston Villa shirt. While his teammates and the club have been excelling, the Pole has been undergoing a stark downward trajectory.

Against Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar during their impressive 4-1 win in the reverse fixture at the AFAS Stadium on 26 October, Cash was handed the worst average score of any Villa player [via SofaScore] at a dreadful 6.2/10 and his underlying stats proved why.

The former Forest man won just three of his eight duels at a worrying success rate of 38% lost possession 11 times and completed just one dribble given he’s expected to provide Villa with the width on the right.

The Luton Town win saw an improved performance, registering two key passes, one big chance created, successfully completing 50% of his dribbles and 92% of his passes but again Mr Hyde reared his ugly head as he was woeful against Nottingham Forest on Sunday (5 November).

As per SofaScore, the Pole failed to win 100% of his total duels, failed to register a single tackle, failed with 100% of his dribbles, only touched the ball 49 touches, completed one key pass and lost possession of the ball seven times before being dragged off with a shoulder injury.

Since that display, the Pole has lost his permanent place at right back with Emery somewhat losing trust in him for the testing fixtures most notably against Manchester City and Arsenal but his inconsistent form was on show again against Brentford (17 December).

As per SofaScore, Cash was again handed the worst average rating of any Aston Villa player to start the game at 6.4/10, completing zero per cent of his crosses, and long balls and winning 50 per cent of his total duels.

The former Nottingham Forest defender also failed to register a single key pass, lost possession of the ball 12 times and won just one tackle before being hooked off after 65 minutes.

He sat out games against Manchester United and Burnley fuelling the rumours that have been going around that Emery may well have been losing patience.

Not on Cash’s watch though as the Pole sent a stark reminder to Emery that he’s still here at Villa Park, ready to fight whoever for a first-team spot after a tremendous showing against Michael Carrick’s men.

He was handed a SofaScore rating of 8.8, which was by far the highest of any player on the pitch, having come out on top in seven out of his 12 duels throughout the game.

Cash made five tackles, two clearances and two interceptions, while he also blocked one shot as he nullified the threat posed by Leeds United loanee Sam Greenwood down the left.

After recording 87 touches, the right-back was successful with 54 out of his 60 attempted passes for an impressive completion rate of 90 per cent.

Alongside his two key passes, he found a teammate with 50 per cent of his crosses and hit the target with 50 per cent of his goal attempts, having scored the winner for his side.

Cash’s celebration for his strike at the Riverside was certainly of a man battling his way through his most testing period as an Aston Villa player but also one who is ready to shut out all the rumours heading his way regarding his immediate future at Villa Park.

He’s back and here to stay.

In other Aston Villa news, a broadcaster wants Emery to sign up the friend of a Villa star for £10.7million this month.