Joe Jacobson penalty earns 1-1 draw against Aston Villa in FA Cup

However, the gulf in stature between these two sides should not be underestimated This was a performance of seismic proportions.

Wycombe trailed 1-0 through Michah Richards’ opener but pegged the Premier League side back early in the second half.

They matched a Villa team 54 places above the in the Football League Pyramid and will now look to repeat the performance in a replay at Villa Park.

Jacobson converts the penalty to level for Wycombe

Garry Thompson prodded wide inside the opening five minutes after a Joe Jacobson corner had caused confusion in the Villa area.

With the scent of an upset well and truly in the air before kick-off, the Blues started brightly and had the better chances of a keenly contested opening 15 minutes.

A neat pass from Matt Bloomfield released Sam Wood inside the box, but his deflected strike was easily saved by Mark Bunn.

However, with 22 minutes on the clock Villa’s Premier League quality showed as Richards fired the visitors into the lead.

The Villa captain swept into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box after Carles Gil’s well placed pull back from the left had eluded Wycombe’s defence.

Bloomfield, whose early industrious running set the tone for the Wanderers’ effort, dug out a fine cross shortly after the half hour, but Wood could only fire a right-footed volley high over the bar.

Wanderers' players celebrate Jacobson's leveller

The aerial threat of Rudy Gestede almost led to a second for the visitors as his near post header flashed wide of the mark five minutes before the interval.

Richards went down under the challenge of Anthony Stewart as he attempted to connect with the forwards header, and had a good shout for a penalty turned down.

Wycombe responded with a header of their own as Jacobson’s dangerous inswinging corner was met by Aaron Pierre who headed over from six yards out.

The second half was just a few minutes old when the Blues were presented with a golden chance to level.

A robust challenge from Kieran Westwood on Bloomfield, in which the Villa man appeared to bundle the Wycombe veteran over, gave the hosts a penalty.

Matt Bloomfield is bundled over to earn Wycombe a spot kick

Jacobson stepped forward and simply passed the ball down the middle as Bunn threw himself to his left.

The League Two side were nearly ahead in spectacular fashion moments later as a deep Thompson cross was met by Wood on the volley.

His powerful drive was heading in, and would have done but for the intervention of Jores Okore on the line.

The game was played in front of a capacity Adams Park crowd

Premier League Villa were clearly rattled by Wycombe’s leveller and struggled to create throughout the following 20 minutes.

Villa’s inability to maintain possession, and the failure of Gestede to hold the ball up, meant that while Wanderers had stopped creating chances, they were comfortably holding the Birmingham side with 10 minutes left.

Substitute, Jordan Ayew, produced a rare moment of class as he drove in from the right, beat Pierre and fired narrowly wide of the post.

Gestede made his first contribution of the second period as his deflected effort clipped the crossbar in the 82nd minute.

Villa did little to worry Wycombe late on and gallant defence saw them hold on for a famous result.

Wycombe Wanderers: Lynch; McCarthy, Stewart, Pierre, Jacobson, Harriman, O’Nien, Bloomfield (c) (81 McGinn), Wood, Thompson, Amadi-Holloway (70 Ugwu)

Subs not used: Richardson; Jombati, Rowe, Kretzschmar, Rowe, Udumaga

Aston Villa: Bunn; Richards (c) (83 Lyden), Okore, Clark, Richardson, Gana, Westwood, Bacuna, Sinclair (71 Ayew), Gil (71 Veretout), Gestede

Subs not used: Guzan, Lescott, Kozak, Cissokho

Bookings: Thompson (52 foul on Richards), McGinn (90 foul on Richardson)

Referee: Michael Oliver

Attendance:  9,298 (Away 2,690)