Martin O’Neill insists his understrength Villa side should have been good enough to beat QPR and demanded a response against Sunderland on Saturday.

A Villa team showing six changes from Sunday’s victory over Albion slipped to a 1-0 defeat, as Rangers boss Iain Dowie made O’Neill’s men his latest top-flight scalp.

Damion Stewart headed home the decisive goal, as Villa made an early Carling Cup exit to lower league opposition for the fourth time in five years.

Debutant Brad Guzan, Zat Knight, Carlos Cuellar, Craig Gardner, Isaiah Osbourne and Marlon Harewood were drafted in alongside regulars like Gareth Barry, Ashley Young and John Carew – but ultimately O’Neill was unable to conjure up a winning blend.

O’Neill said: “I know that eventually in the light of day people look at the result and think that we have not fielded a strong side – but we did.

“We fielded a strong side and tried to win the game. We treated the competition with the respect it deserves and we got beaten. But it wasn’t because we fielded a weakened side, it was because we couldn’t get the goal.”

He was adamant the performance was better than last year’s dire display in defeat to Leicester – claiming it was simply a case of missed opportunities.

O’Neill said: “Was it déjà vu like Leicester City last year? I didn’t think so. I felt we had enough chances to win, but we didn’t do.

“It’s desperately disappointing as it’s a competition we wanted to at least progress in, if not attempt to win. We’ve got beaten but before they scored we should have been out of sight.”

With Martin Laursen rested, Barry was handed the captain’s armband for the first time since his move to Liverpool fell through – but O’Neill played the decision down.

The Villa boss added: “I’m more disappointed about losing the game. I was delighted to give it to Gareth but I’m quite sure Martin will be the captain on Saturday.”

“We have to bounce back. Saturday is a big game. The Premier League is the Holy Grail.”