Pictures and analysis of Bradford 3 Aston Villa 1

Paul Lambert's Aston Villa side will need to box clever in a fortnight's time after their Wembley dreams were dealt a telling blow by the giant-killing Bantamweights.

The first bout of this Capital One Cup semi-final against Bradford City would probably have been awarded to the claret and blues on points, given the number of chances they created.

But it was Phil Parkinson's team who caught Villa off guard and landed three decisive blows to leave their more illustrious Premier League rivals on the verge of a humiliating competition exit.

Villa may yet climb from the canvas and deliver a knockout blow of their own at Villa Park and there was certainly enough evidence at Valley Parade that they will create plenty of chances in the second leg.

They will need to put them away, of course, but there is no reason why Villa cannot match their second leg comeback in 1994 when they lost the first leg of their semi-final 3-1 against Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.

Floored Villa will have to match the heart shown by their League Two opponents, though, and crucially use their heads to ensure the tie goes the distance and not come out wildly throwing haymakers in two weeks' time.

Pound for pound, Bradford's players from the fourth tier are valued nowhere near what Villa's squad are worth, however, they continued to punch above their weight having floored Arsenal in the last eight.

Their players warmed-up to Rocky music before kick-off although it was Villa who showed the early intent in front of a vociferous home backing.

Charles N'Zogbia jinked his way through the home side's defence to force Bradford goalkeeper Matt Duke to make a diving save, while Christian Benteke should have done much better with two headers from Barry Bannan corners.

The Belgium powerhouse was presented with another chance in the 13th minute when he got on the end of a clever through ball from Fabian Delph but the inspired Duke saved his angled shot.

Despite Villa's pressure, it was Bradford who took the lead six minutes later through top scorer Nahki Wells who bagged his 16th of the season.

Villa failed to clear a deep delivery from Gary Jones which dropped for Zavon Hines, and his deflected shot fell into the path of Bermuda international Wells who placed the ball past Shay Given from the corner of the six-yard box.

Duke parried Benteke's effort from 25 yards shortly afterwards while Given was called into action in the 35th minute when Hines twisted and turned his way past Joe Bennett and drilled a low shot at the near post.

Bradford continued to look dangerous from set-piece situations and a corner from Jones was met by James Hanson but Delph cleared his firm header off the line.

Villa created an opening just before half-time when N'Zogbia popped up on the right flank and cut the ball back for Agbonlahor who lashed a powerful effort which Duke did brilliantly to save.

Duke made two top-class saves immediately after the interval when he blocked a Benteke diving header and palmed away Gabby Agbonlahor's shot on the turn from 10 yards.

Lambert introduced Darren Bent in the 57th minute and he had a chance to get Villa on level terms four minutes later when he got on the end of Benteke's flick on at the back post but volleyed over the bar.

Bent then missed a great chance in the 67th minute when he headed over the crossbar from a few yards after N'Zogbia's stinging shot had bounced up in the air following Duke's save.

Bradford always looked dangerous from set-pieces and they scored their second of the game 10 minutes later when Jones picked up the ball after Villa had cleared his initial corner.

The delivery was inch-perfect again and Rory McArdle nipped in front of a static Villa defence to nod the ball past Given and send the home fans delirious.

Villa responded and pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute when Benteke flicked on a long ball for Andreas Weimann who lifted the ball round Duke, who had come off his line, and into the net.

But Bradford restored their two-goal cushion when Carl McHugh crashed a header into the net from near the penalty spot after another pinpoint delivery from a Jones corner in the 88th minute.

Villa were on the ropes again in injury time but the whistle came just at the right time to avoid further misery being inflicted on them. Get ready for round two now.

By Timothy Abraham