Aston Villa 0-1 Stoke City: Sam Vokes knocks out last season’s finalists
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Sam Vokes has scored four goals in his past five appearances in the EFL Cup
Championship side Stoke will host Tottenham in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after beating last season’s finalists Aston Villa in the fourth round.
Sam Vokes scored the game’s only goal in the first half – the veteran striker heading home following a corner.
A much-changed Villa, beaten by Manchester City in the 2019-20 final, struggled for clear cut chances.
Anwar El Ghazi went closest but shot straight at goalkeeper Adam Davies.
Stoke, who beat Wolves – another top-flight outfit – in the second round, were good value for their win as they continued their positive start to the season.
The Potters have lost just once in seven games in all competitions, winning four of their past five.
Vokes caused the Villa defence plenty of problems with his physicality, missing the chance to get his second of the game when he headed wide in the second half.
Substitute Ollie Watkins had a shot pushed over by Stoke keeper Davies as Villa tried to find an equaliser in the closing stages but the visitors defended well to secure their place in the last eight.
‘A massive missed opportunity’ – what they said
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith: “It’s a massive missed opportunity and I said that to the players. I don’t often get into them at half-time but I did today because we were that poor in the first half.
“With the tempo we played at it was a lacklustre first half and an awful performance. The first-half performance was way below the standards.
“We got rewarded (at Bristol City) last week and rightly so. What I expected was a similar performance but we were too lacklustre and made too many mistakes on the ball.”
Stoke manager Michael O’Neill said: “It was a really good performance, I’m delighted. We handled the game really well.
“It gives us a bit of confidence going into Sunday’s game (against Birmingham)
“It’s a nice situation to be in, we haven’t got a lot to lose but they managed it really well. The cup has been a very worthwhile competition for us because we have a big squad and we can utilise it.”
A rare blank for Villa – the stats
Line-ups Aston Villa
Substitutes
Stoke
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Aston Villa 0, Stoke City 1.
90’+5′
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 0, Stoke City 1.
90’+4′
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Tommy Smith.
90’+4′
Attempt blocked. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Henri Lansbury.
90’+4′
Attempt missed. Frédéric Guilbert (Aston Villa) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Anwar El Ghazi with a cross following a corner.
90’+4′
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Tashan Oakley-Boothe.
90’+2′
Attempt blocked. Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
90’+1′
Keinan Davis (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90’+1′
Foul by Bruno Martins Indi (Stoke City).
90′
Foul by Keinan Davis (Aston Villa).
90′
Harry Souttar (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90′
Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90′
Foul by Nathan Collins (Stoke City).
88′
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Jacob Brown.
87′
Foul by Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
87′
Nathan Collins (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81′
Foul by Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
81′
John Obi Mikel (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
77′
Substitution, Aston Villa. Jota replaces Bertrand Traoré.
77′
Attempt missed. Tashan Oakley-Boothe (Stoke City) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Tommy Smith.
