Wednesday stun Villa

Ekoku had been out of action for nine weeks

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Aston Villa 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday substitute Efan Ekoku scored the goal that dumped Aston Villa out of the Worthington Cup.

Ekoku sent the Owls through to the quarter-finals with a cool finish after 40 minutes.

Villa manager John Gregory made five changes from the side which had drawn with Leeds on Sunday, with Darius Vassell, Juan Pablo Angel, Paul Merson, Alan Wright and George Boateng all rested.

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His side struggled to move out of second gear against a determined visiting side who restricted Villa to only a handful of chances.

Dion Dublin missed two golden headed opportunities for Villa when it seemed easier to score.

Wednesday goal

Simon Donnelly impressed for Wednesday, first in attack and then when the arrival of Ekoku meant he dropped into a deeper role.

Gerald Sibon, who had been involved in the collision which saw Dublin suffer his injury in December 1999, also worked tirelessly in attack.

Villa did most of the pressing in the early stages but it was 22 minutes before Owls goalkeeper Kevin Pressman was called into meaningful action, pulling off a fine save at full stretch from Bosko Balaban.

Villa now started to look more menacing and Mustapha Hadji was only just wide with a low 20-yard drive after he had cut in from the right flank.

But five minutes before the interval the visitors went ahead at a time when Villa were down to 10 men after Hadji had limped off after falling awkwardly on his knee getting in a far-post header.

Gerald Sibon and Simon Donnelly combined to let in Ekoku, who came on for Alan Quinn after 27 minutes.

The Nigerian international, who had been out injured for nine weeks, raced clear of the Villa defence and coolly planted the ball past Peter Schmeichel.

Gregory brought on David Ginola at the start of the second period in the hope he could provide the spark of magic that would bring his side back into the game.

One early run by the Frenchman ended with Leigh Bromby being booked for hauling him down in full flight.

But Villa were still struggling to move out of second gear and Sibon created a good opportunity for himself on the edge of the area, although he sent his shot wide.

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Aston Villa: Schmeichel, Mellberg, Alpay, Staunton, Stone, Taylor, Hendrie, Hadji, Kachloul, Dublin, Balaban. Subs: Boateng, Enckelman, Ginola, Barry, Vassell.

Sheff Wed: Pressman, Geary, Bromby, Maddix, O'Donnell, Quinn, Soltvedt, Haslam, Morrison, Donnelly, Sibon. Subs: McLaren, Ekoku, Bonvin, Stringer, Westwood.

Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucester).