Villa 3 Doncaster 1 - analysis

Progress to the last 16 of the FA Cup achieved with a minimum of fuss. Check.

New injuries avoided and key players rested ahead of Saturday's Blackburn trip. Check.

Confidence-boosting goals for returning striker and young prospect. Check.

While you won't hear him admit it, O'Neill's evening was capped by the news it is Everton, not Liverpool, his side will face in round five.

It is remarkably only the second time Villa have reached round five since going all the way to the final in 2000.

While a Toffees trip is undoubtedly a tough task, Villa have nothing to fear having already won there this season. All in all, a most satisfying night's work.

O'Neill said: "We have a bit of momentum going, we have to try and keep it going. I have been asked before about prioritising and I am beginning to hate that word.

"I love the FA Cup and I'm delighted we're in the fifth round. We will go as strongly as we can but if the Premier League is the Holy Grail, I suppose we have got to be chasing that."

Therein lies the Villa manager's problem. As well as their 14 remaining Premier League games, Villa face a possible nine UEFA Cup fixtures and four FA Cup ties - excluding replays.

Potentially, that is more remaining games than anyone else, this for a club who kicked off the season a month early for the Intertoto Cup and have the smallest squad in the division.

Right now, they look strong on all three fronts but eventually something has to give. The threat of injuries, fatigue and suspensions looms large.

Clinching a Champions League spot very much remains the priority, of course. But as Wembley – and possibly the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul – draws nearer, the more difficult it is to leave out his star names.

At least O'Neill was able to allow many of them to put their feet up last night – Gareth Barry, James Milner, Gabby Agbonlahor and Brad Friedel all on the bench but unused – and the benefits could be reaped on Saturday, against a Blackburn side who were forced to go to extra-time last night to sink Sunderland.

In all, there were seven changes to the side held by Wigan on Saturday with Nathan Delfouneso, Moustapha Salifou, Nicky Shorey, Brad Guzan, Steve Sidwell, John Carew and Ashley Young - who was handed the captaincy for the first time - all coming in.

A minute's silence was held in memory of former midfielder Paul Birch, who died on Monday, with Villa's players wearing black armbands as a mark of respect.

All the pre-match talk centred around Carew making his first start in three months, but it was his teenage strike partner who made an early impression.

Delfouneso did superbly down the left to craft a cross which was just beyond the Norwegian while Ashley Young saw an effort curl narrowly wide.

Within 14 minutes Villa were ahead. Carew's knockdown found Craig Gardner on the right side of the area, Sullivan got a hand to the midfielder's shot but left Sidwell with the simplest of tap-ins.

Five minutes later it was two and there could not have been a more popular scorer.

Just like his last Villa goal – the winner against Slavia Prague – Carew enjoyed a large slice of luck as his shot took a huge deflection off Sam Hird and flew beyond the wrong-footed Neil Sullivan.

Twice the Price wasn't right, as Doncaster's Jason Price spurned decent opportunities.

There were chants of '2-0 and you still don't sing!' from the 4,000 Rovers followers and they had a point, Villa Park was decidedly mute.

But at a time when Villa are breaking records in the league and host CSKA Moscow in a fortnight, the visit of the Championship strugglers was never going to set pulses racing, especially on a night this cold.

But the crowd were certainly entertained and Doncaster more than played their part, with some wonderful passing football which was easy on the eye.

They were allowed a route back into the game seconds before the break, when James Coppinger stole possession from Delfouneso and squared to Price who steered inside the left post.

The goal could not have come at a worse time and things could have deteriorated further still early in the second half, but for a brilliant stop from goalkeeper Brad Guzan to keep out Brian Stock's piledriver.

Rovers were enjoying all the play but they lacked a cutting edge. That was the difference between the sides.

Shorey swung over an inviting cross from the left just after the hour mark and Delfouneso stooped to glance a header into the right corner. His earlier error was forgotten and the Wembley dream lives on. Now for Ewood Park.

Villa (4-4-2): Guzan; L Young, Davies, Cuellar, Shorey; Gardner, Salifou, Sidwell, A Young (Osbourne 78), Delfouneso, Carew.

Subs Not Used: Friedel, Barry, Milner, Agbonlahor, Knight, Lowry.

Booked: Sidwell.

Doncaster (4-4-2): Sullivan; O'Connor, Mills, Hird, Chambers; Coppinger (Byfield 76), Wellens, Woods, Stock; Spicer (Guy 75), Price (Heffernan 75).

Subs Not Used: Roberts, Van Nieuwstadt, Taylor, Lockwood.

Booked: Hird.

Attendance: 24,203