Aston Villa 3 Crystal Palace 1: Mat Kendrick's big match verdict and player ratings

Feb 25 2010 by Mat Kendrick

THAT’S the Palace dealt with, now it’s time to be crowned the cup kings before a Royals appointment.

Villa’ can focus fully on their bid to dethrone Manchester United in Sunday’s Carling Cup final now that court jester Neil Warnock and his Crystal Palace paupers have been put in their place.

And with an away trip to Reading in the last eight of the FA Cup Villa could yet be booking another trip to London – and it won’t be to see the Queen.

What’s more they are going into their first regal occasion this weekend with their confidence intact and no nasty injuries.

James Milner and Nick Carle in action.

Gabby Agbonlahor scores Villa's first goal.

Gabby Agbonlahor celebrates his goal.

John Carew is tripped by Matthew Lawrence for the first penalty.

John Carew scores Villa's second goal from the first penalty of the match.

John Carew and Shaun Derry leap from a corner.

John Carew scores from the spot for Villa's third goal.

John Carew celebrates scoring his second penalty for Villa.

Our Man At The Villa Mat Kendrick will be online tomorrow for a live webchat. You can ask Mat anything you like, all you have to do is type away. He will be talking about the BIG game at the weekend especially... visit www.birminghammail.net/live between 1pm and 2pm tomorrow.

Martin O’Neill took the opportunity to rest captain Stiliyan Petrov, Brad Friedel, Emile Heskey and James Collins and brought in Fabian Delph, Brad Guzan, John Carew and Luke Young.

Last night’s tie was streamed live on the FA website and those cyber supporters must have been lapping it up on their laptops as Villa burst out the blocks.