Aston Villa 0 QPR 1

Sep 24 2008 By Andy Walker

THE TEMPORARY return of Villa's Captain Marvel couldn't stop the claret and blue wave crashing to an end at the hands of group of loaded Londoners with a cup specialist at the helm.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill sprung a surprise before kick-off by naming Gareth Barry as his skipper just over a month after the England man was sensationally stripped of the captaincy following the bust-up over his failed move to Liverpool.

However even putting Barry back in charge, albeit temporarily due to the omission of Martin Laursen and Nigel Reo-Coker, couldn't stop Iain Dowie adding another Premier League scalp to his impressive array of Premier League victims.

Last season, while in charge of his former club Coventry, Dowie masterminded giantkilling operations over Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup and FA Cup respectively. And at Villa Park he managed to guide QPR to their first victory over Premier League opposition since their relegation from the top flight thanks to a second-half Damion Stewart goal.

It turned out to be a case of deja vu for Villa who were knocked out of last season's Carling Cup by then-Championship outfit Leicester City, again by a solo goal in the second half.

QPR, backed by mega rich owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone, presented the slippiest of banana skins and Villa fell flat on their face to ensure that no West Midlands teams will advance to the last 16 of the Carling Cup.

At times Villa toyed with QPR, Ashley Young's typical mazy runs and John Carew's frightening power in the box ensuring that their visitors had plenty to think about.

But when Rs defender Stewart rose highest to power home Daniel Parejo's cross past the unimposing figure of debutant goalkeeper Brad Guzan just before the hour mark, it was enough to see off in-form Villa, who were previously undefeated in their last five games.

There were six changes from the side that beat Albion 2-1 on Sunday but surprisingly their was no rest for Villa's big-hitters Barry, Carew and Young. American keeper Guzan was handed his debut between the sticks while Marlon Harewood, Zat Knight, Carlos Cuellar, Isaiah Osbourne and Craig Gardner all made the starting line-up.

Perennial substitute Osbourne, who this week put pen-to-paper on a new three-year deal, showed signs of rustiness during the first half with the odd poor touch and misplaced pass but that is unsurprising for a player who barely gets a whiff of first-team action. Meanwhile Gardner, clearly not a right-back, often showed signs of weakness in his makeshift position.

Spaniard Cuellar looked eager to stamp his mark on the match but his risky lunge on Emmanuel Ledesma, as the midfielder teased the Villa defence on the fringes of the box, could have cost his side a penalty early on, fortunately the Argentine skipped past his trailing legs.

Cuellar, who also attempted to get his name on the scoresheet in the 25th minute but could only head Young's cross wide of the mark, narrowly outshone his centre half partner Zat Knight in the first-half. But after the break error-prone Knight looked much more in control at the back.

Villa have so far scored 21 goals this season but Harewood hasn't bagged one of them and at times his desperation to get off the mark this season showed.

The ex-Hammer blazed his first effort over in the 12 minute after latching on to Stiliyan Petrov's neat throughballl. Harewood attempted to carve out his own opener 15 minutes later, a smart turn set the burly frontman loose on goal but visiting right-back Matthew Connolly tracked back well to halt his progress. Then with half-time approaching, Harewood failed to nod home Young's testing corner from the left following some suspect goalkeeping from the less-than-impressive Radek Cerny. It was no surprise when goal-shy Harewood was replaced by Holte End hero Gabby Agbonlahor in the second half as Villa desperately went in search of a winner.

As the rain poured down after the break, Stewart's goal rocked Villa and visably lifted QPR. However, despite the earlier goal, it wasn't until the 75th minute when Guzan was truly tested when the ex-Chivas man palmed away a solid long-range effort from Parejo.

Substitute Wayne Routledge and Gardner spurned decent chances for the hosts late on but it was Barry who wasted the best chance to complete his transformation from villain to Villan and drag this tie into extra time.

With 15 minutes remaining, Barry only had Cerny to beat after Carew's flick had put him in on goal but the midfielder hit his side-footed effort wide of the left hand post to sum up a miserable night for high-flying Villa.

Villa - (4-4-2) - Guzan, Gardner, Knight, Cuellar, Shorey, Young, Osburne (Routledge 68), Petrov, Barry, Carew, Harewood (Agbonlahor 68). Subs not used: Friedel, Delfouneso, Davies, Salifou, Reo-Coker.

QPR - (4-5-1) - Cerny, Connolly, Stewart, Hall, Delaney,Ledesma (Balanta 90+1), Mahon, Rowlands, Parejo, Buzaky (Leigertwood 81), Agyemang (Di Carmine 67). Subs not used:Camp, Blackstock, Gorkss, Ephraim.

Villa star player - John Carew