Villa are through to the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup despite a night of disappointment in front of the claret and blue faithful.

Martin O'Neill's men suffered their first defeat in Group F, going down 2-1 to MSK Zilina.

But Slavia Prague's 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Hamburg means Villa are assured of at least third place, which guarantees their involvement in the round of 32 next February.

Zilina established a surprise 2-0 lead by the 19th minute, thanks to goals from Vladimir Leitner and Peter Styvar before Nathan Delfouneso marked his full debut with a superb left-foot volley on 27 minutes.

Villa dominated the second half, creating a succession of chances, but were unable to find an equaliser against a Zilina side reduced to 10 men when Leitner was sent off for a second bookable offence.

11min - Knight's close-range header was tipped over the bar by Pernis.

16min - GOAL - Leitner's curling, hopeful effort from the left-hand touchline flew past the helpless Guzan.

17min - Delfouneso's clipped effort went narrowly wide as Villa looked to hit back immediately.

19min - GOAL - Styvar made room for himself from a neat cut-back and finished expertly past the USA shot-stopper.

23min - A Young's fierce free-kick from the left was well handled by Pernis in the Zilina goal.

29min - GOAL - Delfouneso was coolness personified as she showed the prowess of a top striker to fire home with his left foot.

30min - BOOKING - Osbourne.

37min - A Young blazed a 25-yard shot high over the bar from a central area.

45min - Adauto fired well over the bar from 30 yards out.

47min - A Young produced a nicely-weighted pass to Harewood but the Zilina shot-stopper came out to claim and avert the danger.

50min - Adauto was unlucky with a tremendous 30-yard strike as Guzan tipped the ball over the bar.

52min - A Young sliced a 15-yard effort well wide of the Zilina goal.

55min - A Young was again unlucky as he fired only marginally wide.

59min - Harewood's turn and shot was too weak to trouble Pernis.

62min - BOOKING - Leitner

63min - Gardner's central free-kick from just outside the area ricocheted into the wall.

65min - SUBSTITUTION - Milner for Osbourne.

66min - Harewood headed just wide after great wing play from A Young on the right.

68min - A Young twisted and turned before firing a left foot drive too close to the Zilina goalkeeper.

69min - SUBSTITUTION - Barry for Salifou.

71min - SUBSTITUTION - Vladavic for Adauto.

74min - BOOKING - Pecalka

75min - Pernis made a great save from Gardner's well-worked left-foot effort in the box.

77min - SUBSTITUTION - Agbonlahor for Delfouneso.

78min - Harewood's glancing header flew straight at Pernis.

79min - SENT OFF - Leitner.

84min - L Young didn't know much about his chance at the back post as the ball flew to him, hit his knee and flew straight at Pernis.

85min - Barry headed over from A Young's precision cross.

86min - SUBSTITUTION - Rilke for Styvar.

86min - Gardner glanced a header wide from Reo-Coker's cross.

90min - SUBSTITUTION - Tesak for Jez.

90min - Agbonlahor fired wide from close-range as Villa looked to level.

VILLA: Guzan; Reo-Coker, Cuellar, Knight, L Young; Gardner, Salifou, Osbourne BOOKED, A Young, Delfouneso, Harewood. Subs: Friedel, Laursen, Barry (for Salifou, 69), Milner (for Osbourne, 65), Agbonlahor (for Delfouneso, 77), Petrov, Clark.

MSK Zilina: Pernis, Pecalka, Vornacka, Strba, Leitner SENT OFF, Adauto, Pekarik, Jez, Styvar, Piacek, Sourek. Subs: Seman, Tesak (for Jez, 90), Karoglan, Rilke (for Styvar, 86), Belak, Poliacek, Vladavic (for Adauto, 71).

Att: 28,797

Stay tuned to www.avfc.co.uk to find out.