Late goals from Eric Lichaj and Nathan Delfouneso saved Aston Villa from Carling Cup embarrassment after they laboured to a win over plucky Hereford.

Lichaj bagged his first senior Villa goal after the League Two Bulls failed to clear Marc Alrighton’s corner 10 minutes from time.

And substitute Delfouneso tapped home on 87 minutes to break Hereford’s hearts.

Villa spurned several golden chances both sides of the break as Hereford, 91^st in the Football League, came close to giving them a scare.

Stephen Ireland missed a hat-trick of chances, while Darren Bent and Lichaj were denied by the superb David Cornell in the Bulls’ goal.

Hereford came close to snatching a shock opener, when Joe Colbeck’s second-half free-kick drifted wide of goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s far post.

Bent, Richard Dunne and Charles N’Zogbia were the only survivors from Saturday’s 3-1 Premier League win over Blackburn, as there were starts for Chris Herd and Ciaran Clark.

Jean Makoun also started, amid reports Villa had rejected a loan bid from Olympiakos for the out-of-favour midfielder.

Despite eight changes, Villa should have taken an early lead but Ireland hesitated after being put through by Barry Bannan.

The Bulls noticeably grew in confidence and Harry Pell fired straight at Guzan from 25-yards.

Villa controlled the first-half but struggled to find a way through Hereford’s massed ranks, although they should have taken the lead 11 minutes before the break.

Albrighton’s cross was knocked down to Ireland by Bent – only for Cornell to produce a stunning point blank block.

Bannan was the next to squander a decent chance when he skied over five minutes before the break.

Villa pressed and Bent was then denied by a superb save from Cornell, after the England striker rose unchallenged at the far post.

The chances continued to flow after the break as Lichaj’s 30-yard drive was tipped over by Cornell before Ireland wasted another top opening – heading Albrighton’s cross wide on the hour.

Hereford grew in confidence and Colbeck’s free kick flashed wide of Guzan’s far post.

But, with 10 minutes left, Lichaj finally broke the deadlock, bundling in from seven yards after Hereford failed to clear Albrighton’s corner.

Delfouneso doubled the lead in the 87th minutby tapping in to ease Villa’s worries, before Andreas Weimann hit the bar a minute later.