Brian Little steered Aston Villa through to a record-breaking third League Cup triumph at Old Trafford last night — two minutes from the ,end of extra time.

Little grabbed his goal to end the long - playing marathon and settle the issue after three matches which provided five hours 28 minutes of thrilling, if unspectacular football.

His goal was inspired by man -of - the - match Dennis Mortimer. The Liverpool born midfield player sent a brilliant long pass out to substitute Gordon Smith on the right. Smith's low centre seemed to be covered by Terry Darracott but the full-back touched the ball wide of goalkeeper David Lawson and Little, ever the opportunist, was on hand to ram it over the line.

So ended Villa's titanic efforts to bring the Cup back to Villa Park on their fifth appearance in the final.

It was a triumph over all their injuries, and in this second replay Villa had to overcome the absence of Scottish international Andy Gray and midfield schemer Frank Carrodus.

As in the previous two clashes the game scarcely reached any high spots and neither side did themselves justice.

Indeed, the latest encounter revealed a lot of what is wrong with the English game at present.

There were thrills galore but there was also too much running and too little thought put into the play, although Villa always looked the more composed and capable outfit.

But they had to fight back from a shock 38th minute goal from Birmingham-born Bob Latchford and they showed their true character with two determined goals in two minutes near the end.

Chris Nicholl scored the first after 80 minutes with an almost despairing left straight foot drive from 30 yards and Brian Little robbed Mick Lyons to grab the second.

It looked all over then but Lyons redeemed himself with a flying header in a frantic goalmouth melee to ensure that the final went into extra time again.

Villa's last lingering injury doubt was resolved when John Gidman was pronounced fit. Neil Robinson was preferred to Steve Seargeant at right back by Everton.

There must have been same confusion in the Everton dressing room, however, because both Robinson and his fellow full back Terry Darracott turned out wearing No. 2 shirts and Middlesbrough referee Gordon Kew didn't notice.

A foul by Nicholl, who had his hands full trying to cope with Latchford led to Everton's first half goal.

Nicholl was booked in the 37th minute for bringing the centre forward down midway in his own half but the punishment of seeing Latchford score from the free-kick was more severe.

Goodlass took the kick and McNaught rose majestically at the far post to head the ball down for Latchford to sweep it over the line.

It was the first time in four hours and eight minutes that Everton had gone ahead.

Villa tried to retaliate with a quick equaliser but Lawson swooped on a back header from Little after a left-wing corner from Mortimer.

It was clear after the interval that Everton were going to try and defend their slender lead rather than try and extend it. Villa attacked straight away and Cowans had a shot deflected for a corner after Robinson had fouled Robson on the edge of the penalty area.

The crowd chanted tirelessly for Villa and Mortimer was unlucky when a deflected shot was just scrambled away by Lawson at the far post.

Villa were clearly on top now but they just could not penetrate Everton's packed rearguard.

Robinson was forced to stop Cropley with a heavy tackle which almost brought a booking and four minutes later Deehan saw his dipping header shoot narrowly past the upright from Little's corner.

But in the 80th minute Villa scored their equaliser. There seemed no danger as Nicholl gathered a loose ball midway in Everton's half.

He then let fly with a left foot shot which flew past Lawson into the corner of the net with Everton's defenders standing in disbelief.

A minute later Villa were ahead.

Little dispossessed Lyons and squeezed his shot into the corner of the net past the advancing Lawson.

It seemed then that Villa were finally going to triumph.

But just 60 seconds later Everton were surprisingly back into the game.

Goodlass took a corner on the right and after a tremendous melee in Villa's goal mouth, Lyons finally headed the ball over the line.

Gidman. who had joined in the attack, had a shot kicked off the line by Darracott but at the end of five hours of play both sides were still deadlocked and the game again went into extra time.

Villa kept up the pressure in the first period of extra time and Little might well have put them ahead again but for a fine stop by Lawson.

Gidman went down injured after 13 minutes of the first period, obviously troubled with his groin injury, and Everton swept away on the attack for Latchford to miss a great chance from in front of goal after a clever centre from Goodlass.

Two minutes from time it was all over when Little joyously ran on to a loose ball in front of goal after Darracott had only partially cleared a centre from Smith. Everton just had no more strength to come back again.