Sunderland 0 Villa 0 (1-3 pens) report

Who says no one cares about the Carling Cup, writes Brendan McLoughlin.

Try telling that to Brad Guzan after his extraordinary FOUR penalty saves against Sunderland sent Villa to within two rounds of Wembley.

Try telling that to boss Martin O'Neill after his decision to name a virtually full-strength side was totally vindicated.

And try telling that to the ecstatic 2,000-plus travelling Villa supporters, most of whom will have made the long trek home on one of the 34 free coaches supplied by the club with their throats sore from roaring on their side.

Guzan will rightly take all the plaudits from what was an exhilarating evening at the Stadium of Light.

He saved Kenwyne Jones' 83rd-minute penalty and denied Keiran Richardson what looked a certain goal deep into extra-time - before saving a further three spot-kicks in the shoot-out to send Villa into the last eight.

It was a phenomenal effort from the understudy, who remains likely to have to settle for a place on the bench come Saturday.

But each and every one of the other 14 claret and blue players played their part in a performance more of grit than guile.

So, too, did the fans, who often out-sung a crowd renowned for passionate support.

This was a night for big hearts - and everyone played their part.

Sunderland were very much their equal and had the better of the chances - but such was the unwavering commitment of O'Neill's side they deserved their breaks.

Now they can only hope luck is on their side in Saturday's quarter-final draw.

But that will be easier said than done.

Already alongside them in the hat are Manchester United, Tottenham, Blackburn and Portsmouth.

By tomorrow night, if all goes to form, Chelsea, Manchester City and either Liverpool or Arsenal will be added to that list.

If Villa are to emulate the League Cup success of 1996 the club and its fans so desperately crave, they will certainly have to do it the hard way.

Still, since when has silverware ever been easy to win?

Finally, Villa are at least in with a chance of winning something and victories over Liverpool and Chelsea this term have already proved they should fear no one.

O'Neill clearly senses an opportunity - as last night's team selection confirmed.

In a clear statement of intent, the Villa boss made just three changes to the team which drew 1-1 at Wolves on Saturday.

Guzan, Emile Heskey and, most interestingly of all, Nigel Reo-Coker came in with Friedel, John Carew and Steve Sidwell dropping down to the bench.

It was a first start for Reo-Coker since last month's training-ground bust-up with O'Neill and the strongest hint yet the midfielder could still have a future at the club.

As expected, the Black Cats were unable to call on injured forward Darren Bent, however boss Steve Bruce still named a strong side.

But it was Villa who began the brighter - and within three minutes they could have had the lead.

Heskey was the provider for Gabby Agbonlahor's goal at Molineux but this time the roles were reversed as the Brummie striker raced to the byline and picked out his England colleague - only for the January signing to backheel beyond the left-hand post.

It took Sunderland 12 minutes to muster their first chance, Jordan Henderson's curling shot from the edge of the area saved by Guzan after Stephen Warnock's heroic headed clearance.

Villa struggled to find a way through a Sunderland midfield which snapped, snarled and squeezed.

The home side were, however, left exposed by a wonderful threaded through-ball from James Milner which left Agbonlahor in a straight sprint with Nyron Nosworthy to goal but, to his credit, the Black Cats right-back matched the Brummie speedster for pace and eventually won a free-kick.

Bruce's boys were on top for the remainder of the half and, for the second time in three days, Richard Dunne could count himself lucky to avoid conceding a penalty after appearing to bring down Henderson.

But Sunderland saved their best offering of the opening 45 minutes until last when Daryl Murphy's piledriver seemed destined for goal only for Guzan to pull off an extraordinary reaction save.

Villa's best chance came midway through the second half when Milner's crisp half-volleyed pass sent Agbonlahor clean through and Black Cats goalkeeper Craig Gordon raced off his line to thwart him.

But the Wearsiders were handed the biggest chance of the night six minutes from the whistle when Phil Dowd, incorrectly, pointed to the spot. Justice was served, however, when Guzan guessed correctly, diving low to his left to keep out Jones' penalty.

It meant extra-time and tiredness began to creep into Villa's play - Dunne and Stephen Warnock looking particularly jaded.

O'Neill confirmed afterwards that the left-back had battled on with an injury, which would go some way to explaining the uncharacteristic error three minutes from the end which almost cost Villa their place in the competition.

With the rest of his defensive colleagues upfield to attack a set-piece, Warnock was Villa's last point of defence.

But a clumsy touch from the ex-Blackburn man allowed Richardson and substitute Steed Malbranque to charge clear from the half-way line with just Guzan to beat.

With the night the American was having you fancied him even though the odds were stacked against him, and so it was, the keeper standing up to save superbly.

As good as the save was, it was still a shocking miss.

It meant penalties, but had the Black Cats run out of luck and lives?

Guzan certainly thought so.

No one looked more relaxed as the players awaited the shoot-out. And it was soon clear why.

Andy Reid and Lorik Cana were both denied by the Illinois-born stopper, while Carew and James Collins netted to make it advantage Villa.

There was a momentary blip when Malbranque slotted home and Agbonlahor's effort was saved but a memorable victory was complete when Guzan palmed away Henderson's spot-kick to allow Ashley Young to clinch it.