By Dan Harrison

The million dollar question since the summer has been how Martin O'Neill would accommodate his trio of wing wonders - but they combined with devastating effect on their full first outing together.

The travelling claret and blue faithful witnessed James Milner, Stewart Downing and Ashley Young terrorise Portsmouth - with all three getting on the scoresheet as Villa marched into the Carling Cup semi-finals.

Milner went from wing wizard to centre stage, setting up Villa's first for Emile Heskey, before smashing home a thunderbolt of his own.

Summer signing Downing was thrown into the mix as one of three changes from Saturday's draw with Tottenham - and his first start proved to be a fairytale as he headed home the third.

And not to be outdone, Ashley Young rounded it all off with an 88th minute clincher.

Right up until kick-off, the debate rumbled on as to which role Downing would occupy. From the outset, he naturally took up a left-sided spot, with Young on the right and Milner in the centre.

But the flexible triumvirate regularly switched with menace, wreaking havoc among the home side's back line.

This masterful attacking display came in spite of an early setback, which saw Danny Webber's 10th minute corner fortuitously find its way into Brad Guzan's net via a bemused Stilyan Petrov, who was unfortunate to miscue a clearance at the near post.

Cue Milner, who took to the middle ground like a duck to water. No sooner had Pompey finished celebrating, than the energetic Yorkshireman teed up Heskey for a well-worked equaliser.

The timing of the striker's run was as precise as Milner's through ball, and Heskey finished the move by neatly dinking over Asmir Begovic.

It sent Villa's attacking aces into overdrive, with Luke Young firing over from Downing's cute cutback before Begovic kept out Agbonlahor's low drive.

When the second goal arrived it was courtesy of more Milner magic. He collected Ashley Young's infield pass, before turning on the edge of the box and thumping across Begovic.

While a half-time lead was the least MON's men deserved, they didn't relent after the break.

Ashley Young was denied by Begovic following an excellent counter-attack which began with a Milner slide tackle just outside his own penalty area, while Tal Ben Haim cleared from the goalmouth after Stephen Warnock had motored forward and rattled a cross into the danger zone.

Just like the man who scored it, the third goal was well worth the wait. Ashley Young, at times unplayable, latched on to Petrov's ball, delivered a teasing cross to the back post and Downing was on hand to head home.

MON's refusal to underestimate Portsmouth in the pre-match build-up proved correct, however, as Kanu offered a glimpse of the South Coast side's resilience.

The Nigerian slipped away from the Villa defence and slotted past Guzan to set up a nervy final three minutes.

But within 60 seconds, another quickfire reply saw Villa's place in the semi-finals well and truly rubber-stamped. This time Agbonlahor crossed, Heskey dummied and Ashley Young emphatically finished from close range.