Aston Villa coasted into the third round of the Football League Cup last night refusing to become involved in a brawl with their rugged Third Division opponents Sheffield Wednesday.

Gary Shelton scored the all-important winning goal In the 26th minute after an outstanding move between John Gidman and Gordon Cowans and Villa afterwards sensibly kept their control and composure.

It would have been easy for them to have lost their heads as the Yorkshire side inexplicably endeavoured to match skill with brawn.

But Villa’s experienced professionals went about their task with just the right kind of determination to see them through to a deserved success.

Bristol referee Steven Bates seldom gave Villa’s players the protection they required as Sheffield Wednesday’s men attempted to knock them out of their purposeful stride.

Three players were booked - Wednesday’s Jeff Johnson and Ian Porterfield and Villa’s Gordon Smith - but the official might have taken even sterner action.

Jackie Charlton’s side certainly failed to endear themselves to the 31,152 Villa Park crowd with tactics which left a lot to be desired.

Their formation right from the start was also less than inspiring. They employed five men at the back, four in midfield and left Tommy Tynan up front as the solitary striker. Tynan was virtually the “loan ranger”.

He did engage goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer in one save after 14 minutes when Villa’s defence was caught on a breakaway, but that was to be almost Wednesday’s only chance.

There was really little excuse for Wednesday’s aggressive tactics and Johnson deservedly went into referee Bates’ book for scything down midfield architect Cowans after 51 minutes.

The brilliant 19 year old prospect was often subjected to tackling of the most dubious nature and fortunately he was able to come through unscathed.

Andy Gray, back in the side after injury, was also a target for fierce punishment from Hugh Dowd and the centre had could count himself lucky not to have been sent off.

But Porterfield became the second Sheffield player to receive a caution when he viciously chopped down Shelton after 67 minutes in sheer desperation.

Threatened

Villa’s Smith had his name taken after a foul on Johnson after 79 minutes but this was the only time that any of the home players even threatened to resort to the tactics of their opponents.

Under normal circumstances Villa should have won this game by miles. Their build up was vastly superior and in Cowans, Frank Carrodus and Dennis Mortimer they had by far the more skilful midfield performers.

The build up was right and at times only brave goalkeeping by Bob Bolder prevented them from scoring a hat full of goals.

As early as the 12th minute Gray might have scored with a powerful header after a right wing centre from Gidman. But Bolder flung himself across his goal to tip the ball away.

Delightful

Villa’s goal came however from a delightful move with Brian Little sending Gidman away down the right. The full back sent in a smart cross and Cowans prodded the ball forward for Shelton to score with a powerful drive.

Villa were denied an obvious penalty just before half time when Gray was flattened by Dowd. Everyone in the ground knew it should have been a penalty apart from referee Bates.

Wednesday’s defensive tactics succeeded to a degree in spoiling Villa’s attacking play, but it was nearly always one way traffic. The second half degenerated into football of the worst kind and Wednesday should have been punished with further goals.