Bradford produced more Capital One Cup heroics at Valley Parade tonight to see off another Barclays Premier League side in their semi-final first-leg clash with Aston Villa.

Villa, who face Saints on Saturday, went 1-0 down when Bermudian striker Nahki Wells coolly despatched a shot from inside the penalty area following a rebound in the 19th minute, then doubled their lead when defender Rory McArdle headed home Gary Jones' cross in the 77th minute.

Bradford almost put the tie beyond their top-flight opponents moments later when striker James Hanson headed against the crossbar, but Villa, who spurned a hatful of chances in either half, grabbed a crucial late lifeline through Andreas Weimann before Carl McHugh restored the home side's two-goal advantage with another header two minutes from full-time.

Villa manager Paul Lambert was left to lament his side's failure to deal with balls into their box.

“We are really disappointed we have lost the game. We're in one now, that's for sure,” he said.

“We knew the set-pieces were coming, we have not defended them well at all. It's hurt us and wasn't good enough.

“We had a lot of the game but their set-pieces, hurt us. We have another chance to retrieve this. We will have to see what happens in a fortnight's time.

“We will be at home and we know what we have to do. We have to play a lot better than that.”