Aston Villa 2 Ipswich 1 - match report

Michael Chopra had put Mick McCarthy's side ahead in the 31st minute before Bent, who returned from a recent hamstring injury, levelled straight after half-time with a crisp low finish.

A replay looked on the cards for the remainder of the second half but substitute Andreas Weimann headed home with seven minutes left to put Villa in the hat for the draw on Sunday afternoon.

Villa boss Paul Lambert made seven changes from the side which drew 2-2 with Swansea including places in the starting line-up for goalkeeper Shay Given and Bent.

The claret and blues had an early chance when Charles N'Zogbia's cross picked out Jordan Bowery, who made his full Villa debut, but the youngster could not generate enough power with his header and Ipswich keeper Scott Loach saved comfortably.

Ipswich had their first real opening in the 13th minute when Chopra got on the end of a Jay Emmanuel-Thomas flick and saw his lot shot saved by Given.

Winger Marc Albrighton fed the ball to Bent six minutes later and the Villa forward delivered a low cross across the penalty area for Bowery who slid in at the back post but was unable to control his shot and directed the ball wide.

Villa had clear opening in the 31st minute when a long ball skimmed off Patrick Kisnorbo's head to send Bowery clear who brought a diving save of Loach.

Ipswich then caught Villa on the counter attack to break the deadlock when Chopra found space inside the penalty area and his cross-shot was deflected past Given and into the net.

The Tractor Boys should have doubled their lead in the 36th minute after great work by Aaron Cresswell, who was a target for Villa in the summer, down the left and his brilliant cross found Chopra who saw his shot saved instinctively by the legs of Given.

Villa's best chance of the first half fell to Ciaran Clark two minutes later when he got his head on the end of Barry Bannan's corner but Loach saved brilliantly.

However, Bent equalised just 36 seconds into the second half when he got on the end of N'Zogbia's through ball and struck a low shot into the bottom-left corner of the net.

The goal brought Villa to life and Joe Bennett's jinking run culminated in low shot which flashed across goal while Bent's low drive was pushed past the post by Loach shortly afterwards.

Gabby Agbonlahor replaced Bowery just past the hour mark and he got in a good position to get his head on Eric Lichaj's cross but the ball flew over the crossbar.

Cresswell's lofted ball over the Villa defence dropped for Ipswich substitute Aaron McLean in the 80th minute and his toe poke brought a reaction save from Given.

But Villa grabbed the winner in the 83rd minute when Bennett's high cross was met by Weimann who planted his header past Loach in the Ipswich goal to secure safe passage.

By Timothy Abraham