Brentford 1-1 Aston Villa (4-2 pens)

Aston Villa bowed out of the Carabao Cup following a penalty shoot-out defeat to Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium.

Mikkel Damsgaard converted the winning spot-kick for the hosts to inflict a 4-2 reverse, Bees goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson saving twice, with the tie finishing 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Harvey Elliott, making his full debut, fired Villa ahead just before the break in the Round 3 tie in west London, registering the club’s first goal of the campaign.

Fellow debutant Jadon Sancho came close to doubling the visitors’ advantage when he struck a post, but Aaron Hickey levelled for the Bees with a fine volley into the top corner just before the hour mark, forcing the tie to penalties.

Villa now turn full attention back to Premier League matters and Sunday’s trip to the north east to face Sunderland.

Manager Unai Emery made a total of seven changes from Saturday’s draw at Everton, with Elliott and Sancho joined by Marco Bizot, Ian Maatsen, Pau Torres, Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand in the starting line-up to face the Bees.

And it was Elliott who tested ‘keeper Valdimarsson with an early effort on goal after just two minutes.

It set the tone for a positive start from Villa, who enjoyed 70 per cent possession inside the opening 15 minutes.

But Villa ‘keeper Bizot was called upon to make an impressive reaction save midway through the first half, tipping over Sepp van den Berg’s glancing header from Vitaly Janelt’s corner.

Maatsen tried his luck from distance in the 35^th minute as the encounter remained finely poised, and it was Villa who struck just before half-time.

Captain John McGinn pounced to rob possession off Janelt in a dangerous position, the ball broke for Elliott and, first time, his strike from the edge of the area got the better of Valdimarsson.

The visitors came within inches of doubling their lead in the 51^st minute as Guessand broke down the right and his low ball into the box broke for Sancho, whose strike rebounded off the near post.

Ezri Konsa made a fine block to thwart Dango Ouatarra, but there nothing Villa’s defence could do to stop the Bees’ leveller just before the hour mark.

Torres headed clear Frank Onyeka’s long throw and the ball broke for Hickey to unleash a fierce right-footed volley into the top corner from 18 yards.

Bizot cleared the danger from another throw into the danger area, before Emery turned to Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, Emi Buendía and fit-again Boubacar Kamara off the bench.

The cup tie hung firmly in the balance as both sides pushed for a late winner, Emery making his last throw of the dice as he introduced Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba.

Valdimarsson made a superb block at the far post to deny an onrushing Matty Cash from McGinn’s deep cross.    

Bees substitute Damsgaard then fired narrowly over in the 87^th minute before Rogers’ low effort was collected by Valdimarsson in injury time, taking the tie to penalties.

And it was McGinn and Cash who saw their spot-kicks saved as Damsgaard fired Brentford into Round 4, inflicting a second defeat on Villa in a matter of weeks.

John McGinn – SAVED (0-0)

Fabio Carvalho – SCORED (1-0)

Ollie Watkins – SCORED (1-1)

Reiss Nelson – SCORED (2-1)

Emi Buendía – SCORED (2-2)

Yehor Yarmoliuk – SCORED (3-2)

Matty Cash – SAVED (3-2)

Mikkel Damsgaard – SCORED (4-2)