Sucker punch ends Villa's hopes

Goal-shy Aston Villa were made to pay for missing a host of chances as Sheffield Wednesday sent them spinning out of the English League Cup.

Substitute Efan Ekoku pounced towards the end of the first half to punish Villa for failing to capitalise on a massive slice of possession.

Villa should have taken the lead after five minutes when Hassan Kachloul met a Steve Staunton corner, only to head over from close range. They created a stack of other chances but were unable to find the finishing touch.

Croatian striker Bosko Balaban, in his first home start for Villa this season, forced a fine save from Kevin Pressman, his header from a Staunton cross plucked away by the visiting goalkeeper.

However, Wednesday caught Villa with a sucker punch. Ekoku, who had only been on for 10 minutes, latched on to a through ball from Simon Donnelly to fire past the helpless Peter Schmeichel.

Villa continued to pour forward in the second half with Balaban, Dion Dublin and substitute David Ginola all squandering chances.

However, Villa became ragged and desperate as they looked for that elusive equaliser, with Wednesday happy to sit back and soak up attacks that, by the end, were becoming toothless.

ASTON VILLA: Schmeichel; Stone, Mellberg, Alpay, Staunton; Kachloul, Taylor (Ginola, 46min), Hendrie, Hadji (Boateng, 40); Dublin, Balaban (Vassell, 63).

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Pressman; Geary, Bromby, Maddix, O'Donnell; Quinn (Ekoku 29), Soltvedt, Haslam, Morrison (McLaren, 61); Donnelly, Sibon (Westwood, 82).

Referee: C Wilkes.