Source: Team_Talk
Cool Carew cuts Palace down to size
Villa had been stunned when Darren Ambrose's spot-kick cancelled out Gabriel Agbonlahor's 14th goal of the campaign.[LNB]But Carew had the final say for the Carling Cup finalists, with his double blast after both penalties were conceded by Matthew Lawrence.[LNB]It put Villa through to their first FA Cup quarter-final in 10 years, their first last-eight appearance since they reached the 2000 final.[LNB]It was the perfect tonic for Martin O'Neill's side before their Carling Cup meeting with Manchester United on Sunday.[LNB]Villa began strongly and low cross from James Milner found its way through to Agbonlahor but he was unable to make a clean contact with his shot and Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni was able to collect.[LNB]Carew then made good contact with a volley from Ashley Young's centre but it flew straight at Speroni from a narrow angle.[LNB]Agbonlahor created a chance for himself when turning and shaking off the challenge of Lawrence but Speroni was able to beat out his left-footed drive.[LNB]Speroni had to be alert to tip over a rising drive from an acute angle by Ashley Young, who was causing plenty of problems to the Palace defence.[LNB]Carew then had a powerful shot turned aside by Speroni as the home side upped their game.[LNB]The Palace goalkeeper was relieved when a fierce attempt by Ashley Young drifted wide after it taken a strong deflection and left him stranded.[LNB]Stephen Warnock wasted a good chance after being freed by Milner inside the box and, with Carew completely unmarked, he over-hit his pass across the danger area.[LNB]Palace enjoyed a rare spell of pressure and Nick Carle had a low effort blocked from the second of two Ambrose corners in quick succession.[LNB]Speroni was perfectly placed to hang onto a shot on the turn from Milner as Villa quickly regained the initiative.[LNB]And their pressure finally paid off when Agbonlahor broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time.[LNB]There was again controversy with the ball appearing to go out of play off Milner but referee Martin Atkinson decided it had struck Carle.[LNB]Agbonlahor was first to react to Ashley Young's centre and beat Speroni with a back header into the corner of the net.[LNB]The decision may provoke Neil Warnock's ire after Palace were denied victory in the first game when Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov scored a late equaliser from a corner which should not have been awarded.[LNB]Lawrence became the first player to be booked after 51 minutes for a challenge on Ashley Young before Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan comfortably dealt with Ambrose's 20-yard effort in a Palace raid.[LNB]Nathaniel Clyne then followed Lawrence into Atkinson's notebook for bringing down Agbonlahor.[LNB]The England forward had the chance to double Villa's lead when racing onto a long ball from Luke Young but his shot lacked conviction and did not seriously extend Speroni.[LNB]The Argentine produced an excellent save low to his right to keep out a low shot from Ashley Young after a powerful run.[LNB]But Palace were now more in the game and a cross-cum-shot from Neil Danns was only just wide of the mark.[LNB]Palace got back on level terms after 72 minutes when Stephen Warnock brought down Lee in the penalty area and Ambrose converted the subsequent penalty.[LNB]But Villa retaliated and Carew earned - and converted - two more penalties to send Villa through to the last eight.[LNB]The Norway international was brought down by Lawrence after 79 minutes and made no mistake himself from 12 yards.[LNB]Then, with two minutes remaining, Lawrence was again found guilty of fouling Carew inside the box - and the striker again tucked away the penalty.[LNB][LNB]
