Source: SKY_Sports
Villa edge out Bluebirds
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} A solitary strike from Gabriel Agbonlahor was enough to secure Aston Villa a passage into the fourth round of the Carling Cup at Cardiff's expense. Agbonlahor linked up with strike-partner in the third minute of the game to hit the target for the fourth game in a row.The Bluebirds battled for an equaliser throughout and Jay Bothroyd had the ball in the net in injury time only to see his effort ruled out for offside.There was still no room for Nigel Reo-Coker as Villa boss Martin O'Neill made five changes to the side that defeated Portsmouth on Saturday.The Irish managed retain a core of experienced players and skipper Stiliyan Petrov, winger James Milner - despite a missed penalty - and defenders Carlos Cuellar and Nicky Shorey all had fine games.But Cardiff, whose boss Dave Jones made six alterations to his line-up, were far from overawed and had opportunities to at least take the game into extra-time after a brave performance.Dream StartVilla Park was barely half-full despite the presence of 3,000-plus Cardiff fans but it was the home side who took the lead through Agbonlahor.Carew was the creator with a run down the right flank before sending over a low cross.Agbonlahor was first to react at the near post and his deft flick flew past his former Villa team-mate Peter Enckelman into the far corner of the net.Gabor Gyepes was presented with a golden chance to equalise when he got on the end of an inswinging free-kick from Whittingham but from six yards out he headed over the crossbar.Milner was not hesitant in letting fly with one effort cannoning off Adam Matthews for a corner and another producing a low save from Enckelman.But Cardiff were creating chances and Brad Guzan, deputising for the rested Brad Friedel, did well to keep out a deflected drive from Gavin Rae.Bluebirds skipper Joe Ledley then headed over after a cross from Chris Burke that as Cardiff continued to cause the home side problems.Milner showed his trickery in twice turning past Matthews and his eventual cross curled just past the far post with Enckelman scrambling along his line.Carew sent a glancing header wide from a Milner corner but Cuellar had to be alert at the other end to block a shot from Jay Bothroyd in a quick Cardiff counter-attack.ChancesEnckelman got his body behind a low drive from Villa skipper Petrov just before the interval as Villa headed in a goal up.Carew had a good opportunity to double Villa's lead after two minutes of the second half when a cross-field ball from Fabian Delph found Milner in space and his centre picked out Carew at the far post.But the Norway international headed wide when he should have at least hit the target.The visitors had a let-off after 58 minutes when Milner missed from the penalty spot. Petrov was brought down in the area by Gyepes who was also yellow-carded for the foul. Milner stepped up but he crashed his shot against the woodwork.Jones brought on top scorer Michael Chopra in place of Riccardo Scimeca after an hour and Delph then became the first Villa player to be cautioned for a challenge on Whittingham.Guzan was the equal of a curling 30 yard free-kick from Whittingham and Habib Beye was yellow-carded for a foul on the same player as Cardiff pressed for an equaliser.Bothroyd then thought he had levelled in injury-time but the flag was already raised for offside.Aston VillaTeam StatisticsCardiff City1Goals011st Half Goals04Shots on Target65Shots off Target22Blocked Shots36Corners311Fouls72Offsides32Yellow Cards10Red Cards054.4Possession45.6