Gabby Agbonlahor struck his fourth goal in as many games as Villa reached the Carling Cup fourth round with a narrow victory over Cardiff.

The striker scored the game’s only goal just three minutes in, when he nonchalantly flicked John Carew’s cross past ex-Villa keeper Peter Enckelman.

Boss Martin O’Neill left Nigel Reo-Coker out of his 18-man squad, but Fabian Delph staked a strong claim for a promotion to the first team with a fine display in the centre of midfield.

The visitors had plenty of chances to pull level with ex-Wolves striker Jay Bothroyd and Chris Burke both threatening.

But Villa had a golden opportunity to make it two when they were handed a second-half penalty.

Skipper Stiliyan Petrov was brought down by Gabor Gyepes inside the box, but James Milner fired the spot kick against the post.

And the claret and blues suffered an injury-time scare, when Bothroyd had a goal chalked off for offside but held out for victory.