We lost. We deserved to lose. Credit to Everton, they outplayed us and were fine value for the 3-1 scoreline.

Ironically, we were fortunate they scored their opener otherwise Petrov would surely have been sent off for his handball on the line, Everton would have been awarded a penalty and more than likely have gone one up anyway. David Moyes would certainly have preferred that outcome at the time. As it turned out, it didn’t matter.

From there on, Gabby’s deserved penalty 3 minutes later possibly remained Villa’s most potent attack of the game. Milner took the spot kick and Howard rightfully looked frustrated that he didn’t manage to stop the poor effort ending up in the back of the net.

Half way through the first half Sidwell dived in to make a saving tackle that probably wasn’t required, upending Anichebe in the box as Friedel and Knight closed him down. Without wanting to absolve him of any blame, he was sort of covering right back at the time. Just seconds earlier Craig Gardner had done well to win the ball with some terrier like tackling only to find himself carrying the ball into midfield, beating 3 Everton players along the way. Sadly, he over ran the ball before he could link up with either Ash or Gabby, who were in good positions, and Everton sent the ball back directly to Anichebe. Worryingly, the Nigerian turned and went past Curtis Davies as if he wasn’t there since the defender seemed to be still feeling the effects of an earlier knock. That’s when Sidwell came flying in, earning himself a yellow card in the process. We’ll never know now, but I’ve a feeling that Zat Knight would have made a better job of the tackle a fraction of a second later, if only he had the chance to make it.

Just after the half hour mark Ashley Young finally managed to whip in a deadly cross, after some nice build up play it should be noted, and only Gabby will know how he didn’t even hit the target with his head, unchallenged from 5 yards out. One of those that could be described as easier to score, at least by those of us who don’t actually play professional football.

And so the first half played out. The referee needed to have a word with John Carew as his frustration was beginning to show. The Norwegian doesn’t look ready to be back yet and couldn’t get himself into this game at all. He dropped deep on a few occasions and made a few niggling challenges in a vain attempt to see some action. Another referee may well have punished Gardner’s block on Gosling just before half time with a penalty. Perhaps he felt that several penalties in the record books would not serve as a fair reflection on this game and, if that’s the case, he would be right.

And so to the second half. In all honesty, for the first 15 minutes neither side captured any of their first half spark. Then Carew kicked the game back into life, flicking Milner’s cross towards the far post, only for Howard to make a fine save.

Cahill had a chance saved by Friedel 5 minutes later and then Villa sought to apply some pressure. Sadly, woeful finishing by Gabby, Sidwell and Ash led to the score sheet remaining unchanged. The spell of Villa pressure came to a close with Craig Gardner attempting one of his low, pile-driver free kicks that the Everton players in the wall have obviously seen a video or two of. It didn’t work. Everton wouldn’t give the ball back until Cahill scuffed the ball into the back of the Villa net a couple of minutes later. Both Villa centre backs missed the ball completely leaving Cahill free at the far post where you might have expected him to blast the ball into the net. He tried, but fluffed it. It still went in though and that was effectively game over. It’s not often you see the lads in Claret & Blue drop their heads, but they did at this point.

Nothing of note happened for the remainder of the game save for Delfouneso making a brief cameo, on for the consistently disappointing Sidwell. Two minutes of injury time and that was that.

So now we’re out of the hunt for two of the three domestic trophies. As I said in the opening, despite Villa creating some decent chances, Everton deserve to go through. Hopefully they’ll now go on all the way to win it. That might sound strange, but it will be reassuring to me in some sense as there’s rarely any shame in losing to the team that goes on to win the final. It also keeps extra games in Everton’s fixture list that will hopefully mean we won’t need to be looking nervously over our shoulder in their direction in the Premiership. Hopefully.

If there’s anyone still in any doubt after this game about how important Gareth Barry is to Aston Villa then there’s surely nothing that can illustrate it. Sidwell clearly isn’t an able replacement and demonstrates why Arsenal and Chelsea let him go every time I see him play. He has his moments of brilliance, but I’d rather see someone who’s consistently above average and tries hard instead.

And finally, the other ex-Reading player, Nickey Shorey, hasn’t impressed many since joining Villa, least of all Martin O’Neill it would seem, but is he really a worse left back than Gardner is right back?? Personally, I would feel much happier seeing Shorey on the left and Young on the right than Young on the left and Gardner on the right. Just my opinion y’understand, but surely it’s worth having another look at Shorey & Young in their natural positions??