Express & Star

Aston Villa 0 Middlesbrough 2 - Report and pictures

One of the lowest crowds of the past three decades was present at Villa Park to witness the hosts exit the Carabao Cup at the hands of Middlesbrough.

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The vast majority of the 11,197 who did make the effort had little to shout about, as two second-half goals from Patrick Bamford sent Boro through to the fourth round at the home side’s expense.

A largely pedestrian game, which befitted the eerie atmosphere created by swathes of empty seats, was ultimately decided in the 58th minute Bamford was felled by Tommy Elphick in the penalty box.

The challenge earned Elphick, Villa skipper for the night, a second yellow card. Bamford duly converted the spot-kick to put Boro ahead, before the sealing their progress with his second nine minutes later.

A Villa team made up of fringe players and young stars had their moments, particularly during the first half.

It is questionable, however, just how much this defeat really means to a club where promotion from the Championship is the sole aim. Likewise, Boro’s celebrations were hardly euphoric.

You would hope someone at the club may perhaps reflect in the coming days however, at whether they were right to to charge £15 for an adult ticket, particularly considering this was the third of five games at Villa Park in 22 days and the second against Boro in seven days.

Just as in the two previous rounds of the competition, Bruce opted for wholesale changes, though there was undoubtedly a more senior element to this XI than the one which defeated Wigan 4-1 last month.

Elphick returned to captain the team in his second start of the season. He was partnered in the centre of defence by Chris Samba, while teenagers Callum O’Hare and Jake Doyle-Hayes were also restored to the line-up, along with more experienced heads like Ritchie De Laet and Alan Hutton.

There was also a first appearance on the bench this season for veteran defender Micah Richards.

Villa had the ball in the net inside seven minutes but Elphick’s header, from Henri Lansbury’s free-kick, was ruled out by an offside flag.

Elphick was involved in many of the game’s most significant early moments. First blocking an Ashley Fletcher shot after a powerful run by the Boro forward and then receiving his first booking after a mis-timed challenge on left-back George Friend.

O’Hare, just as in his other first-team appearances this season, was involved in much of Villa’s best attacking work.

The 19-year-old saw two attempts blocked in quick succession by Ben Gibson, before moments later threading a delightful pass to set up Hogan.

It appeared as though the striker would just have Boro keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos to beat but a slight hesitation allowed Gibson to recover and block the shot.

The visitors were meanwhile enjoying particular joy down Villa’s left flank, where Hutton was playing in an unfamiliar position. When Connor Roberts found space, his cross should have been converted by Bamford but the striker directed his header against the bar from only six yards out.

Marcus Tavernier also had a big chance for the visitors but could only hammer wide from inside the box, after Villa keeper Jed Steer had palmed Adam Forshaw’s long-range effort into his path.

An injury to Lansbury saw McCormack introduced for his second appearance of the season before the break.

The final chance of the half fell to Josh Onomah, though the Tottenham loanee appeared a little surprised when Doyle-Hayes’ free-kick found its way through to him at the far post and he ended up scuffing his effort straight at the keeper.

The deadlock was eventually broken 13 minutes in the second half. Lewis Wing’s pass put Bamford through on goal and the forward was felled by Elphick’s sliding challenge in the box.

That meant a penalty to the visitors and a second yellow card for the Villa skipper from referee Stephen Martin. Once he had left the field, Bamford gently lofted his spot-kick down the middle to put Boro in front.

The nine minutes between the striker’s first and second goals saw a Villa rally and with a bit more luck they might have drawn level.

Hogan was unable to rearrange his feet in time to convert an inviting McCormack cross, while the latter was denied at close range by Forshaw after Samba had flicked on a corner.

But on 67 minutes Bamford got his second to effectively put the tie to bed. Tavernier whipped in a cross from the left wing and the striker leapt highest at the far post to head the ball back over Steer and into the net.

Doyle-Hayes had a chance to pull one back for Villa but shot straight at Konstantopoulos from inside the box, while McCormack felt he should have had a penalty after being brought down by Daniel Ayala.

Boro then almost had a third in the closing stages but Tavernier’s close range effort cannoned off the bar and away to safety.

Teams:

Villa: Steer, Hutton, Elphick (c), Samba, De Laet, Lansbury, Doyle-Hayes, Onomah (Blackett-Taylor 81), O’Hare, Bjarnason, Hogan (Lyden 63) Subs not used: Bree, Richards, Clark, Bunn (gk).

Boro: Dimi, Roberts, Ayala, Gibson (Fry HT), Friend, Howson, Forshaw, Tavernier, Wing (Downing 63), Bamford, Fletcher (Miller 82) Subs not used: Fabio, Assombalonga, Baker, Pears (gk).