HISTORY LESSON

ASTON VILLA were the first League Cup winners in 1961 after a 3-2 aggregate victory over Rotherham.

Since then they have registered four more triumphs in the competition – 1975,

1977, 1994 and 1996. Back in 1961 they lost the first leg 2-0 at Millmoor and due to fixture congestion the second leg was not played until after the start of the next season.

Alan O’Neill and Harry Burrows scored to send the tie into extra-time before a Peter McParland (above) winner in the 109th minute.

Villa began the defence of the trophy just eight days after winning it.

But they would have to wait 14 years to taste glory again, when Ron Saunders guided them to a 1-0 win over Norwich in 1975.

And two years later they sealed another triumph – but it did take three attempts to overcome Everton in 1977, the only time that has happened in League Cup history.

A 0-0 draw at Wembley was followed by a 1-1 tie at Hillsborough.

The trophy was finally decided at

Old Trafford when Brian Little scored twice in a 3-2 win.

League Cup win

No.4 arrived in 1994 as Dean Saunders netted twice to beat Manchester United

3-1 and deny Alex Ferguson’s side a domestic treble.

Two years later the Villans secured their fifth League Cup trophy with a 3-0 demolition job on Leeds United.

Cult hero Savo Milosevic opened the scoring in the first half before that was added to after the break by Ian Taylor and the prolific Dwight Yorke (above).

Villa have also lost three League Cup finals in 1963, 1971 and 2010.