Aston Villa battled all the way but fell to a narrow 2-1 reverse at AFC Wimbledon in the Papa Johns Trophy.
Taylor-Jay Hart deservedly levelled for Villa’s Young Lions with a super 20-yard strike in the 29th minute, cancelling out Paul Kalambayi’s opener for the League Two hosts at Plough Lane.
But Josh Davison’s second-half flicked finish inflicted defeat in the southern section Group B opener, with Villa also drawn against Portsmouth and Crawley Town in the competition.
The visitors, who reached the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy last term, pushed for a late leveller in south London against a strong Dons side but they could find no way through.
The hosts asserted themselves early on and took the lead in the 12th minute, Kalambayi poking home from close range after captain Hayden Lindley had initially cleared Will Nightingale’s header off the goal-line.
Josh Feeney was next to clear the danger from Chris Gunter’s low cross, before Tommi O’Reilly went agonisingly close for the visitors with a low strike across goal on the counter-attack.
Teddy Rowe threatened in the 23rd minute following a well-worked move which cut through the home defence.
Villa were growing into game and deservedly equalised just before the half-hour mark, O’Reilly winning the ball and finding Hart, who surged forwards before curling into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.
And the visitors could have taken the lead before half-time as Hart pounced on some slack Dons defending but could only fire wide from a promising position.
Villa were punished seven minutes into the second half as Davison produced a neat flick to finish past Filip Marschall from Ayoub Assal’s low cross.
Marschall tipped over Harry Pell’s cross before the Villans settled again after the restart and started to pose a threat of their own.
Substitutes Omari Kellyman and Rory Wilson were both introduced as Villa looked for a route back into the encounter.
Marshall made another smart save to deny the hosts and keep Villa in it, before opposite number Nathan Broome had to be alert to parry away Lindley’s inswinging corner to the near post.
Villa tried to find a late equaliser and force a penalty shoot-out in the group stage clash but the spoils went to the home side.
