I spotted what Unai Emery did before Aston Villa breakthrough as Anwar El Ghazi responds to Holte End - chof 360 news

Aston Villa are one win away from their first Wembley appearance in five years after beating Cardiff City 2-0 in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Marco Asensio scored twice in the second half to complete what was a professional job against the Championship strugglers.

Marcus Rashford laid the ball on a plate for the Spaniard’s first goal, before Leon Bailey did the same his the second.

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Villa will discover their quarter-finals opponents once the draw is made after Manchester United’s tie with Fulham on Sunday evening.

Here are the talking points from Villa’s win…

Emery's call for calm pays off

To Cardiff’s credit, they defended manfully and were level for the majority of the game.

Their goalkeeper Ethan Horvath pulled off several impressive saves in the first half, otherwise Villa could have gone on to score three or four.

Cardiff’s only chance of the game came just minutes before they fell behind as Perry Ng swung in a cross from the right, finding substitute striker Yousef Salech in the box.

Emi Martinez pulled off a smart save to deny the Bluebirds striker, before Bailey led a counter-attack and then gave the ball away after trying to set Asensio free in space ahead.

After groans from the Villa Park crowd, Emery turned away from facing the Holte End and gestured that supporters should calm down and not grow frustrated.

Like magic, Villa broke the deadlock just moments later as Youri Tielemans found Rashford’s run in behind, before the Manchester United loanee assisted Asensio for his and Villa’s first of the game.

"[We] have to be confident but always respecting the opponent and we were trying to dominate,” Emery said on ITV after full-time.

"The most important thing was try to be passionate, don't concede transitions of their attacking moment and we did it. Then progressing we had chances.

“We weren't clinical but the second half after we scored the first goal I think we were thinking OK, our work was going well.

"We are thinking for the next match. We are in [a] quarter-final, we are happy. We know the difficulties we are going to face but enjoy each moment and today, here with our supporters, we are here performing at home very well and the cup is very important for the club, for the supporters, for ourselves but as well it is a way for a trophy."

Rashford and Asensio striking up lethal combination

Villa’s quality told in the end and that’s exactly why Rashford and Asensio were recruited in the winter window.

They were the difference against Chelsea and that proved to be the case again on Friday night.

While he has been involved in eight goals in his last 10 league appearances for Villa and Paris Saint-Germain, Asensio has now scored four goals in his last couple of home matches.

Rashford, meanwhile, is showing signs of rediscovering his best form despite not finding the net just yet in claret and blue.

Since his Villa debut on 9 February, Rashford has created more chances in all competitions than any other Premier League player having made six against Cardiff, which equals the most he ever created in any of his 426 matches for United (six vs Wigan in January 2024).

“It's important for the team, it's important as well for the players individually to get their individual target as well and two goals,” Emey said of the duo.

“He's [Marco Asensio] adapting fantastic, as well [Marcus] Rashford. We will need them for the next matches and the challenges we have.”

Bogarde and Garcia impressing

Villa kept their second clean sheet of the calendar year on Saturday after only facing one shot on target against Cardiff and improving their defensive performances in the league is paramount.

Andres Garcia continues to impress after his move from Levante in January, while Lamare Bogarde is looking more comfortable with every passing week.

Garcia only misplaced two of the 49 passes he attempted against Cardiff and held his position well, knowing when to overlap or sit back without clogging up space further forward.

Bogarde operated at right-back in numerous matches in the first half of the campaign, though he was taken off at half-time against Young Boys and Crystal Palace while clearly still trying to adapt.

He looks more naturally suited at centre-back, while the 21-year-old also played exceptionally against Arsenal in the 2-2 comeback in January.

El Ghazi get his Villa Park farewell

Anwar El Ghazi opened the scoring in the 2019 Championship play-off final, and without that goal against Derby County, who knows where Villa would be now?

The winger got the farewell he deserved at Villa Park on Saturday after playing the full 90 minutes for Cardiff.

After full-time, he briefly caught up with some of his former teammates, including Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez. He also had a conversation with compatriot Ian Maatsen.

Then, after breaking away from the group of players on the centre circle, he embraced a rapturous applause from the Holte End, where fans were singing his name.

He clapped back and tapped his heart, also blowing kisses before making his way towards the travelling supporters.

As he headed towards the tunnel, El Ghazi signed autographs and took selfies with Villa fans in the lower Trinity.

Claret & Blue verdict

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