*Villa undone by Weaver of magic*

Aston Villa won the battle but Nicky Weaver won the war.

The Manchester City goalkeeper again looked like an England player in waiting last night, immaculate under extreme pressure; David James once again proved vulnerable.

With extra-time beckoning the Villa goalkeeper brought down Alfie Haaland in the area and was beaten by Kevin Horlock’s penalty. It was enough to give City a place in the fourth round at home to Wimbledon.

With both clubs seeing the much maligned League Cup as their most realistic passport to European competition there was no jiggery-pokery with their team selection. Both managers fielded their strongest available side and recent events suggested the pre-match team talk was brief.

For the Villa manager John Gregory only two words were necessary - Intertoto Cup - a reminder of the penalty his players paid for failing to qualify for Europe this season. And Joe Royle could be even terser; he needed only to mention Rob Styles, the City manager’s fall-guy for Saturday’s 5-0 thumping at Arsenal.

With Laurent Charvet and Richard Dunne both ineligible, Royle opted for an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation. But his team were quicker to settle. They created two chances of note in the first half, both the product of sweeping moves down the left.

Kevin Horlock began the first with a long ball that found Danny Tiatto. He picked out Haaland with his cross but Alan Wright blocked the shot before it could reach James.

Paul Dickov began the second move, finding Horlock. The Northern Ireland international’s cross found Shaun Goater but his first-time shot flew inches past James’s left-hand post.

Villa came more into the game as the half progressed. Wright volleyed over from distance and Dion Dublin had a shot blocked by Spencer Prior.

Darius Vassell, on in the second half after Dublin injured his back, fired wide after being set up by Steve Stone. Then Villa were prevented from going ahead by two fine saves in the space of a minute by Weaver.

Stone, fed by Paul Merson, forced the first with a fierce right-foot shot which Weaver tipped over his crossbar. From the subsequent corner Merson found Gareth Southgate, whose far-post header looked set to break the deadlock before Weaver palmed the ball away for another corner.