By Paul Brown

James Milner has reigned supreme in midfield this season - but, after the 3-1 victory over Brighton, there appears to be a young pretender to his throne.

Fabian Delph was an all-action hero as he bossed the central ground with a superb range of passing as well as his usual bite in the tackle - and he even popped up with a brilliant goal too.

England hopeful Milner has been a revelation in the middle over the past few weeks but Delph showed he can also do more than a capable job when called upon by boss Martin O'Neill.

Ironically it was Milner he replaced in the side for this fourth round clash although the former Newcastle and Leeds man joined him on the field soon after the early opening goal.

Marc Albrighton, another hot prospect in claret and blue, produced a stunning centre from the right which Nathan Delfouneso expertly despatched past Michael Kuipers. But the winger's joy soon turned to desolation as he was forced to leave the field through injury.

Brighton fans will have felt relieved to watch the exit of the goal provider until they glanced at the bench to see man of the moment Milner readying himself for action.

Milner once again demonstrated that stunning versatility, popping up in the centre, wide left and wide right, while Delph excelled all afternoon in his accustomed central role.

It was another star performer who managed to head home Villa's vital second, however.

After being pegged back at the end of the first half courtesy of Tommy Elphick's prodded finish from close-range, Ashley Young proved he's as good in the air as he is on the deck with a wonderful headed goal. He rose highest in the box to nod home Stewart Downing's brilliant cross from the right just after the restart.

There was further good news soon after as defender Curtis Davies made his long-awaited return to first team action, following a prolonged spell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

But it was in the final third where Villa excelled and Delph went so, so close to making it 3-1 when his shot from point-blank range was brilliantly kept out by the Seagulls goalkeeper. But that was merely the starter before the main course as the midfield starlet 'did it all by his delph' a few minutes later.

Downing produced a neat pass to Milner, who in turn dinked the ball forward to Delph. After beating one man with a slick cutback, he fired wide of Kuipers and into the corner for his first claret and blue cracker.

That settled Villa's nerves and they could have bagged more - Delph just off target with another effort, Steve Sidwell seeing his close-range shot magnificently stopped by Kuipers and Delfouneso hitting a thunderbolt against the post.

The Seagulls ensured the three minutes of stoppage time were nervier than expected with a goal at the death, Nicky Forster firing home.

But Villa managed to see out the tie and enjoyed yet more Villa Park cup joy, with a fifth round tie now on the horizon.