BATTLING Aston Villa came from behind to maintain their grip on the Coca-Cola Cup at the expense of struggling Leeds at Elland Road.

Leeds were on a revenge mission after their 3-0 defeat against Villa in last season's final and Lee Sharpe raised home hopes with a spectacular 69th-minute opener.

But a Richard Jobson blunder gifted lan Taylor an equaliser within a minute and Dwight Yorke booked Villa's fourth-round place with a coolly-taken 77th-minute penalty.

Leeds faded after the break and, with Villa pressure mounting, it seemed only a matter of time before the visitors broke the deadlock.

It seemed only a matter of time before Villa scored but it was Leeds who took the lead against the run of play on 69 minutes.

Wallace battled his way to right byline and cut the ball back for Sharpe, who drove a left foot shot into the roof of the net. Leeds' lead was short lived with Villa grabbing an equaliser within a minute.

Curcic escaped on the left and, although Marlyn stuck out his left hand to keep out his shot, Jobson made a mess of his attempted clearance at the far post and Taylor finished from two yards.

Seven minutes later, Villa were ahead from the penalty spot. Yorke surged into the area and Beesley brought him down. This time Villa's appeals did not fall on deaf hears with the referee pointing to the spot without any hesitation. Yorke stepped up to coolly send Martyn the wrong way with his spotkick.