Carabao Cup: Aston Villa 0 Stoke 1 - Report and pictures

Villa’s boss has repeatedly referenced the club’s proud history in the League Cup, a competition in which he led them to last year’s final.

But there will be no Wembley appearance this time round, after Sam Vokes’ first-half header sent Stoke through the quarter-finals at Villa’s expense.

Vokes’ goal was enough to decide a relatively even contest in which a second-string Villa team were unable to reach the levels which had helped them so comfortably see off Bristol City in the third round a week previously.

Smith, not unreasonably, named the same XI yet Stoke, who also knocked Wolves out in the second round, proved far sterner opponents.

Michael O’Neill’s team were solid in defence and unwilling to let Villa dominate midfield in the manner they had at Ashton Gate.

Too many of the home players were also missing their shooting boots, Henri Lansbury, Keinan Davis and Anwar El Ghazi all missing good chances to level the scores.

When record signing Ollie Watkins, on as a substitute, did manage to get an effort on target, Stoke goalkeeper Adam Davies proved equal to it.

Smith gave another start in midfield to Jacob Ramsey, who had Villa’s first effort on target of the match when he headed Neil Taylor’s cross straight at visiting keeper Adam Davies.

Ramsey’s runs into the box were causing the visitors problems and after seeing a shot blocked he sent another effort at the keeper, having collected Anwar El Ghazi’s cross.

Yet Villa were nowhere near as fluent in attack as they had been seven days previously, with Bertrand Traore a particular disappointment, while Stoke were creating problems of their own.

Vokes should have done much better with a header from six yards out, before Nick Powell forced Jed Steer into a fine reaction save.

The former Wigan man looked certain to put the visitors ahead when he met Jacob Brown’s low cross but the Villa goalkeeper stuck up a hand to deflect the shot over the bar.

It proved the most temporary of reprieves as Stoke went in front from the corner, Vokes getting in front of his man at the near post to flick Jordan Thompson’s delivery home, Ahmed Elmohamady failing in a last ditch attempt to prevent the ball crossing the line.

Villa looked for a response and should have drawn level when neat build-up play led to Frederic Guilbert crossing from the right but Henri Lansbury, from no more than six yards out, sent his header about the same distance wide.

Another chance went begging for the hosts before the break. This time it was Davis unable to find the target from El Ghazi’s cross after a sweeping move which began deep in Villa’s own half.

Traore, quiet for much of the night, had the home side’s next chance soon after the restart but was unable to get a clean connection on Marvelous Nakamba’s cross.

Instead it was Stoke who had the second half’s first big chance, Vokes missing an opportunity to double the lead when he headed wide from Josh Tymon’s deep cross.

Villa were forced into a change soon after when Kortney Hause picked up a knock, Ezri Konsa replacing him off the bench.

Smith’s team then again went close to drawing level, this time when Keinan Davis’ cross from the right was just a little too far in front of El Ghazi.

Not for the first time in his Villa career, the latter just could not find the finish, a bursting run into the box resulting in another shot fired too close to Davies.

With 20 minutes remaining Smith brought Watkins off the bench and the club record signing almost made an immediate impact, forcing the Stoke goalkeeper into a flying save.

Villa ramped up the pressure in the closing minutes with Steer even going forward for a series of stoppage time corners.

But for the first time this season, it was simply not their night.

Teams

Villa (4-3-3): Steer, Guilbert, Elmohamady, Hause (Konsa 58), Taylor, Lansbury, Nakamba, Ramsey (Watkins 71), Traore (Jota 77), Davis, El Ghazi Subs not used: Cash, Luiz, Hourihane, Kalinic (gk).

Stoke (3-4-3): Davies, Collins, Souttar, Martins Indi, Brown, Mikel, Powell (Oakley-Boothe 75), Thompson, Campbell (Smith 70), Vokes (Fletcher 70), Tymon Subs not used: Batth, Ince, Gregory, Noukeu (gk).