Match report: Swindon 2 - Aston Villa 3

Benteke gave Villa the lead in the 30th minute with a header and Gabby Agbonlahor added a second goal nine minutes later with a fine individual goal.

Swindon produced a spirited fightback after half-time and two goals from substitute Miles Storey ensured a tense finale, but Benteke secured Villa's place in the last eight with an injury-time winner.

Villa boss Paul Lambert made five changes from the side which drew 1-1 with Norwich at the weekend but could still not find a place for striker Darren Bent who was left on the bench.

Shay Given, Eric Lichaj, Barry Bannan, Stephen Ireland and Andreas Weimann came in the starting line-up in place of Brad Guzan, Joe Bennett, Marc Albrighton, Fabian Delph and Brett Holman.

Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio included former Villa youth team striker James Collins in the starting line-up while Sandwell teenager Storey was on the bench for the Robins.

Villa started well and Agbonlahor escaped down the left flank in the third minute and delivered a high cross to the back post, but Benteke failed to generate enough power with his header and Swindon keeper Wes Foderingham saved comfortably.

A mistake by Lichaj allowed Matt Ritchie to break down the right flank and he found Collins but the ex-Shrewsbury striker fluffed his shot wide.

Swindon slowly started to get into the game and Matt Lowton cleared a Paul Benson shot off the line in the 26th minute after the ball pinged around the penalty area.

However it was Villa who took the lead four minutes later when Ireland found space on the left edge of the 18-yard box and picked out Benteke who powerfully headed in the roof of the net from close range.

Villa were then forced into a defensive reshuffle when Chris Herd limped out with a injury and was replaced by left-back Enda Stevens with Matt Lowton shifted to centre-back.

The claret and blues doubled their lead just before half-time when Agbonlahor broke down the left and cut inside to arrow a fierce low drive past the dive of Foderingham into the bottom-right corner of the net.

Swindon were determined to make a go of it after the interval while Villa attempted to ride out the storm and hit on the counter attack.

Ritchie chose the wrong option in the 52nd minute when he found himself in space inside the box and shot instead of crossing.

Ritchie was at the heart of all of Swindon's attacking play and he curled a teasing cross into the six-yard box 12 minutes later, but Gary Roberts directed his header from only a few yards out against the outside of the post.

Benteke almost bagged his second of the night in the 68th minute when he was found by Ireland from a Villa counter attack but Foderingham saved his low shot with his legs at the near post.

Swindon's pressure eventually paid off 10 minutes later when they pulled a goal back when Raffaele De Vita crossed for fellow substitute Storey to bundle home from close range.

And the Robins were level in the 81st minute when Andy Williams crossed for Storey to bag a second with an audacious backheeled flick.

But Benteke popped up with the winner in injury time when he smashed home from inside the penalty area after he got on the end of Lichaj's cross.