Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa (4-3 on pens)

Aston Villa suffered a penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge – despite more Carabao Cup heroics from Cameron Archer.

After a goalless first half, Timo Werner headed the Blues in front after 54 minutes.

But a valiant Villa hit back soon after when Archer thumped a header of his own past Kepa Arrizabalaga from Matty Cash’s pinpoint cross.

And in the shoot-out, misses from Ashley Young and Marvelous Nakamba proved decisive as the visitors lost 4-3 and exited the competition in Round Three.

Dean Smith made nine changes from Saturday’s Premier League win against Everton as he rotated his squad, giving Second Round hat-trick hero Archer the chance to lead the line.

And the game was only eight minutes old when the young striker had the first sight of goal, chipping the ball over the bar after a snappy, incisive move.

The hosts had also rotated and were struggling for attacking fluency in the early stages, with Saul flashing a header wide during their only meaningful foray forward.

Thirty seven minutes had elapsed when Jed Steer was called upon to make a save for the first time, getting down to stop and hold Hakim Ziyech’s low drive.

Carney Chukwuemeka made an appearance when Morgan Sanson’s evening came to a premature end when an injury forced him off just before the break, with Villa taking it to the Blues as the half drew to a close.

A pinpoint through ball from Bertrand Traore set up another one-on-one for Archer that was thwarted by Arrizabalaga before Anwar El Ghazi’s follow-up was hacked off the line by Reece James.

Mason Mount was introduced for the second half as the home side looked to up the ante, and they fired two early warning shots through Callum Hudson-Odoi.

And it wasn’t long before Chelsea made the breakthrough, with Werner rising highest at the back post to head home James’ cross after 54 minutes.

The German international slid another shot narrowly wide as the hosts took control, but it was Villa who found a route to goal next.

Cash advanced down the right before sending a deep cross to the waiting Archer, and the striker’s header nestled in the net after clipping the underside of the bar, leaving him to celebrate in front of the jubilant away supporters.

Chances came and went for both sides in a frantic period before the game settled down once again as the game drew to a close, leaving penalties to decide the winner.

Young struck the bar with the visitor’s second spot kick and Nakamba saw his effort saved as Villa bowed out of the tournament.