Villa recovered from conceding an early goal to win 3-1 against Litex Lovech in the first leg of the UEFA Cup first round game.

Ivelin Popov opened the scoring on 10 minutes as he curled a shot around a three-man wall and past Brad Friedel.

Nigel Reo-Coker equalised on the stroke of half-time as he capitalised on a mistake from goalkeeper Uros Golubovic.

Cedric Cambon was dismissed for two yellow cards on the hour mark before Mihail Venkov was given a straight red for a blatant handball in the box.

Gareth Barry scored the resulting penalty and Stiliyan Petrov stroked home from close range at the death to earn the victory.

The home side opened the scoring on 10 after Reo-Coker was harshly penalised for a foul. From 20 yards out, Popov curled a shot around a wall containing Agbonlahor, Gardner and Petrov and past Friedel.

Gardner did well to break down a Venkov attack on 17 on the right hand side.

Milner floated a ball to Barry on 19 but the England star couldn't get his shot away.

The same happened to Shorey a minute later as Villa started to get into their stride. The latest move saw good possession from Barry and Agbonlahor.

Gardner swung in a good ball on 24 but it was an easy take for Golubovic as no Villa players took a gamble.

The Villa away contingent were delighted a minute later when Gardner headed home from a Milner centre but the assistant linesman adjudged him to be offside.

Manolev tried an ambitious 30 yarder on 31 but it flew high and handsome.

Friedel made a good save a minute later from a curling 15 yard drive from Dudu.

Villa could have gone in at the break 2-0 down but Niflore hit into the side-netting on 44 and literally on the stroke of half-time, Reo-Coker took advantage of a defensive mistake by goalkeeper Golubovic to slide home the away side's equaliser.

LItex looked for a penalty on 46 as Laursen tangled with Niflore but the referee waved away the calls.

Cambon was booked on 55 after a dangerous tackle from behind on Agbonlahor.

NRC nearly made it three goals in two games as he surged forward on 56 but his strike went straight at the goalkeeper.

Cambon was dismissed after wrestling Agbonlahor to the floor on 59 for his second booking. Barthe replaced Dudu on 62 as Litex looked to tighten up at the back.

Milner let fly on 67 from 20 yards out bu the Litex defence did well to close the midfielder's shot down.

Harewood replaced Gardner on 69 as MON looked to offer some attacking support to Agbonlahor.

Venkov was dismissed for a blatant punch of the ball on the line as Agbonlahor and Harewood looked to score on 72.

From the resulting penalty, Barry hammered home to make it 2-1.

Routledge replaced Reo-Coker on 75 and the home side also made a change as Acedo came on for Niflore

Barry was replaced by Salifou on 79 as O'Neill rested the midfielder for the final 10 minutes.

Harewood could have made it 3-1 on 83 after great work from Petrov down the centre but he shot straight at the Litex defence.

Angelov replaced Wellington on 85.

Petrov scored at the second time of asking after his initial close-range shot was well saved by Golubovic.

Litex Lovech: Golubovic, Cambon (SENT OFF), Venkov (SENT OFF), Nikolov, Berberovic, Manolev, Popov, Wellington, Dudu, Niflore, Sandrinho. Subs: Todorov, Dos Santos, Angelov (for Wellington, 85), Acedo (for Niflore, 75), Bibishkov, Tsvetanov, Barthe (for Dudu, 62)

VILLA: Friedel; Young, Cuellar, Laursen (c), Shorey; Gardner, Barry, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Milner; Agbonlahor. Subs: Guzan, Knight, Salifou (for Barry, 79), Osbourne, Routledge (for Reo-Coker, 75), Harewood (for Gardner, 69), Delfouneso.