Three days after bowing out of the Capital One Cup to Bradford City, Aston Villa’s season of woe descended into total humiliation when they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Millwall. To lose to one lower-league team in a week may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose to two looks like carelessness at dealing with balls played in from the wide areas.

Villa’s vulnerability at corners and crosses was again alarming.

Having conceded four goals to Bradford City from set-pieces, Villa were punished here from a corner headed in by the outstanding Danny Shittu and then a cross which John Marquis transferred over the line at the second attempt.

It will have been even more painful for Villa that their nemesis was the type of player chairman Randy Lerner wants to build around, a hungry, home-grown player.

Marquis was born in Lewisham and is so passionate about Millwall that he joined the fans in the away end at Selhurst Park earlier in the season. He has been biding his time while injured and with the attacking positions filled by Chris Wood and Darius Henderson, who are now at Leicester City and Nottingham Forest respectively. When Millwall needed him, Marquis was there.

When Darren Bent struck after 22 minutes, Villa believed they could inject some life into their troubled season but they lacked confidence, lacked defensive organisation and certainly leadership.

Richard Dunne cannot return soon enough. It was an anaemic showing by Villa, a disgrace when set against the commitment of the 1,609 fans who had made the trip south. One of them waved a banner that read “In Paul Lambert We Trust”.

Millwall supporters certainly trust in Kenny Jackett. He has lost players through transfers and injuries but Jackett has stayed calm, focused on sending out a balanced team who simply wanted the win more than their Premier League opposition.

Millwall had more shape and desire, claiming their first top-flight victim in the Cup since defeating Arsenal and Chelsea in 1995.

The only stain on a wonderful evening at a raucous Den was five plastic bottles being thrown onto the pitch, one of which narrowly missed the assistant referee, Mark Scholes. The game was held up for two minutes.

Millwall players appealed for calm which seemed to work, although 15 stewards and a few police stationed themselves in front of the fans in one corner of the Dockers Stand. Another 20 policemen appeared around the corner but were not needed.
It also needs noting that the idiots were loudly condemned by other Millwall fans. This is a community club working hard on their image.

This game was brought forward because of a protest today against cuts at Lewisham Hospital. Millwall have been involved in backing the protesters’ cause, with the players wearing supportive T-shirts, and some of the staff will be involved in today’s march.

The match actually started slowly, Villa trying to settle into their strange 3-4-1-2 system.

So vulnerable at the back, Lambert had fielded Matthew Lowton, Ron Vlaar and Ciaran Clark as centre-halves with two wing-backs in Eric Lichaj and the left-sided Joe Bennett dropping back frequently. Perhaps Lambert was hoping for safety in numbers. Some hope.

With Fabian Delph and Ashley Westwood in midfield and Charles N’Zogbia in the hole, Villa looked to work the ball through to Bent and Andreas Weimann.

The pair soon had an impact after 22 minutes. Villa’s goal came from a great block tackle by Delph on Liam Feeney, the ball rebounding forward to Weimann, who raced into the box.

Millwall goalkeeper David Forde managed to push out Weimann’s shot but his momentum along the line carried him to the left. Bent, following, mis-hit the ball, sending it the other side of Forde.

Bent was starting because Lambert had rested Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor with one, probably anxious eye, on Tuesday’s Premier League visit of Newcastle United in mind. Bent relished his rare opportunity to remind people of his qualities but there was a familiar frailty in the other area.

Shay Given was defending the goal in front of the Villa fans, who launched into a droll chant of “how —— must you be, we’re winning away”.

Not for long. Old woes resurfaced. Villa’s frailty from set-pieces continues to be a problem and the malaise was evident again last night.

When James Henry swept in a corner, Shittu beat Lichaj and headed powerfully in. For Villa fans it was a case of déjà vu.

Millwall supporters quickly reminded Villa of their earlier comments.

For the hosts, it was also another reminder of what an important decision it had been for them that Shittu had eschewed the chance to represent Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Villa then had to rejig as Delph hobbled away, never having shaken off the knock received when winning the ball off Feeney. Barry Bannan came on and repeatedly gave the ball away.

Lambert’s week turned even worse with two minutes remaining. When a cross came in from the right, Villa froze, allowing Marquis to head against the bar. He was quickest to the loose ball to give Millwall the lead and plunge Villa deeper into the mire.