Hat trick sets up Villa v Blues cup clash

Scott Sinclair's hat-trick ensured Aston Villa scraped into the third round of the Capital One Cup.

They needed extra-time to defeat Notts County 5-3 at Villa Park, setting up a mouth-watering clash with Second City rivals Birmingham City.

A repeat of last season's exit at the hands of Leyton Orient looked a real possibility, as the League Two side led on three occasions.

It came through superb long-range goals from Genaro Snijders and Graham Burke, either side of Jonathan Stead's penalty.

But Villa had a reply on each occasion as Adama Traore and Sinclair scored the equalisers, with Sinclair's second also coming via a spot-kick.

It looked like a harsh award of a penalty to make it 3-3 after 90 minutes and force extra-time.

The Premier League side's fitness told in extra-time and they led for the first time nine minutes into the first period, when Sinclair completed his treble.

Substitute Joe Bennett ensured Villa would survive an almighty scare and progress through when he completed the scoring after 111 minutes.

Snijders had put Notts County in front after 16 minutes, with a looping shot from 25 yards that deceived debutant goalkeeper Mark Bunn.

It was gormer County loanee Jack Grealish who teed-up Traore who marked his home debut, and first start, with a coolly-taken finish from the right-hand side of the area.

McLeod raced behind the Villa defence and on to Elliott Hewitt's long ball and was brought down by Bunn, who only received a yellow card. Stead stepped up and placed the penalty into the roof of the net.

However, five minutes into the second half Villa were level. Grealish again was the visitors' tormentor, meandering into the box and setting up a simple tap-in for Sinclair.

But, in the 56th minute, Villa Park was stunned once more as former trainee Burke marked his return to his old club with a stunning left-foot curler from 30 yards out, which clipped a post on the way in.

Then, with 12 minutes remaining, another twist. Kieran Richardson ran into the box and tumbled to the floor under a challenge from Stanley Aborah.

Sinclair took the penalty and his strike had enough power to beat goalkeeper Roy Carroll.

The 26-year-old completed his treble after 99 minutes with another tap-in, this time from substitute Joe Cole's squared pass.

Sinclair wasted another chance before Bennett rounded off his driving run with a neat finish to find the bottom corner of the net.