Despite the best efforts of both Aston Villa and Wycombe Wanderers, neither could be separated in Saturday's first FA Cup game. Villa had led through Micah Richards' strike, only to be pegged back by Joe Jacobson's penalty.
Wycombe, who beat Halifax Town and Millwall to get to this stage, were in confident mood ahead of kick-off. The Adams Park outfit are also flying high in League Two - in sixth position - were fancying their chances of an upset ahead of kick-off. They were, however, without star stopper Matt Ingram and Max Kretzchmar was also not in the starting line-up; Alexander Lynch and Aaron Amadi-Holloway were the two players that started instead.
It was doom and gloom on all fronts as far as Villa were concern, and were still without a win under Remi Garde. The Frenchman made a bid to break the rotten run by making several changes from their defeat to Sunderland. Mark Bunn, Jores Okore, Ciaran Clark, Kieran Richardson, Ashley Westwood and Scott Sinclar were all afforded a starting birth in place of Brad Guzan, Alan Hutton, Joleon Lescott, Aly Cissokho, Jordan Vertout and Jack Grealish all missed out.
Early openings for both sides
Bradford City legend, and the hosts' top goalscorer, Garry Thompson could have given Wycombe an unlikely lead early on. A corner, from the right, bobbled around in the area before dropping for the veteran forward, only to see it flash past the post from five yards. Villa also had a great opportunity to take the lead but Micah Richards' cross-cum-shot was brilliantly cleared by Aaron Pierre.
The home side were looking good and could count themselves unlucky when some nice play got Sam in behind the Clarets' defence. His cross couldn't find Aaron Amandi-Holloway, who would have had a tap-in. Similarly to the opening chance for Wycombe, the visitors bounced straight back and some defensive confusion led to several strikes going just past the post.
Villa take the lead but forced to hang on
That pressure eventually paid off as they took the lead midway through the half. One of the few players who has been able to come away with some credit during the season, Carles Gil, went on a mazy run before touching the ball back to the edge of the area. Richards was able to meet it with power, getting a favourable deflection from Pierre's studs to take it into the bottom corner and past Lynch.
Wycombe then came back into the match and were unfortunate to not be on the scoresheet, as corner after corner produced great concern for Bunn in goal. The Villa stopper was forced into some less than orthodox clearances and punches in a bid to keep the hosts at bay. Pierre's header flashed over and Wood had another good opportunity that flew past the post, though there was to be no equaliser before the break and Villa just about went in with a lead.
Jacobson levels from the spot
That lead would not last long, however, as Ashley Westwood caught Matt Bloomfield with a high arm on the edge of the area. Westwood was booked for his troubles and would be given a stern talking to by captain Richards. Villa debated the decision but there was no doubting Joe Jacobson's ability from the spot and he duly converted to send the home faithful wild.
It could have been even worse for Garde's men had Joes Okore not cleared Amadi-Holloway's excellent volley off the line. The Danish defender continued his whole-hearted style of play at the other end as his free-kick nearly caught out Lynch, though the young goalkeeper was able to gather his powerful set-piece at the second time of asking.
Late flurry of chances
It was tough going for both teams after the initial flurry of chances at the start of the half. The game became more of a midfield battle and on that neither side was winning. That prompted movement from both benches, as Garde's decision to replace Gil with Vertout was greeted with a chorus of boos. Scott Sinclair also made way for Jordan Ayew, while Chigozie Ugwu was called off the bench by Gareth Ainsworth to come on in place of Amadi-Holloway.
The final few minutes were, as expected, tight and tense. The best chances fell to the away side and they were desperately unlucky not to have come away with all three points. Some trickery from Ayew saw him work space to shoot, only to see the ball zip past the post.
Rudy Gestede, who had been quiet all game, had a deflected shot rattled the joint and a header flew wide. Michael Oliver's whistle sounded not long later, bringing an end to a fantastic cup tie and ensuring another 90 minutes - at least - would ne needed to split the sides.