$str = 'v\a';
var_dump(preg_match("/^(v\\\\a)$/", $str, $matches)); //true
$str2 = 'v\\a';
var_dump(preg_match("/^(v\\\\a)$/", $str2, $matches)); //true - должно false
$str = 'v\a';
var_dump(preg_match("/^(v\\\\a)$/", $str, $matches)); // true
$str2 = 'v\\\a';
var_dump(preg_match("/^(v\\\\a)$/", $str2, $matches)); // false