*Aston Villa keeper Brad Guzan saved three spot-kicks to help his side earn a 3-1 penalty shoot-out win in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.*

Villa hero Guzan had also saved a penalty in normal time when he kept out a tame Kenwyne Jones effort.

Kieran Richardson had a glorious chance in extra-time for the home side but Guzan again rescued the visitors.

Andy Reid, Lorik Cana and Jordan Henderson missed for Sunderland in the shoot-out.

John Carew and James Collins had scored Villa’s efforts from 12 yards and, despite Gabriel Agbonlahor missing, Ashley Young stepped up and converted for the winner.

The late drama had been in contrast to a hard-fought game of sparse chances in which defences had held firm for the most part.

But, when the openings did come, they were squandered, especially by a profligate Sunderland side, who were missing leading goalscorer Darren Bent.

The home side won an 83rd minute penalty after Cuellar was harshly adjudged to have handled a Reid cross in the area but Jones struck his effort too close to Guzan.

In extra-time, Richardson was clean through on the Villa goal but went for goal instead of passing to Steed Malbranque and had his shot saved.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill had started with Emile Heskey as he gave him a chance to stake his claim for the more prominent part in the club’s season he wants to help enhance his hopes of making England’s squad for the 2010 World Cup.

Heskey flicked an Agbonlahor cross wide early on in what proved his main action of a match he struggled to make an impact in.

Agbonlahor was also kept on a tight leash by the Sunderland defence but, when he was played through on goal by James Milner, he could only shoot straight at Black Cats keeper Craig Gordon.

Ultimately, his miss was not as costly as those by Sunderland as Villa progressed into the last eight of the Carling Cup.

*Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill:*

“The lads are pretty euphoric, none more so than Mr Guzan.

“He gave a fantastic performance and we are naturally delighted to have got through (to the last eight).

“He has been doing it for some time, I think he is a great keeper in the making. He has got everything and he is as brave as they come.”