WANDERERS are heading for the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff despite a desperately brave challenge from Aston Villa, down to 10 men for almost half of this Carling Cup semi-final second leg.

Wanderers were forced to defend desperately in the closing stages after Samuels had made it 2-0 with three minutes remaining.

A stunning free-kick on 10 minutes by Thomas Hitzlsperger gave Villa the dream start they wanted as they chased a three-goal deficit from the first leg at the Reebok.

But then they lost Gavin McCann, red-carded for what initially appeared to be a reckless challenge on Jaaskelainen on 38 minutes.

TV replays showed McCann, already on a yellow card, w as given an instant red, for flicking his hand into Emerson Thome's face as the challenge was debated fiercely by players from both teams.

Wanderers defended skilfully, and broke cleverly, while Villa simply attacked bravely. It was exciting to watch but deep down there could be only one side winning as the extra man advantage and that crucial 5-2 first leg win made the telling difference.

Wanderers' first leg performance, inspired by Jay Jay Okocha's double free kick strikes, proved decisive as Wanderers now return to the scene of their 2001 First Division Play-Off victory over Preston which has launched their recent successive run in the Premiership.

"What's it like to see a crowd," sang the desperate faithful on the Holte End, referring to the poor turn-out at the Reebok last week.

If they tune in to the Millennium Stadium for the Final they'll certainly see what a real Wanderers crowd is like then!

TEAM NEWS

SAM Allardyce made his three predicted changes for the Carling Cup semi-final decider at Villa Park, where Wanderers kicked off with a three-goal advantage as they attempted to reach their first major final for nine years.

Ibrahim Ba came in for skipper Jay-Jay Okocha, who earlier in the day was on the losing side as Nigeria kicked off their African Nations Cup campaign with a 1-0 defeat by Morocco, and Per Frandsen returned in place of the suspended Kevin Nolan.

Simon Charlton, who started the first leg on the bench, was preferred to Anthony Barness at left-back. Barness was the only defender on the Bolton bench with Allardyce giving 17-year-old Academy starlet Ricardo Vaz Te an unexpected place in the squad.

Villa boss David O'Leary, who made two changes from the first leg, made his attacking intentions clear when he named the 6ft 6ins beanpole striker Peter Crouch as replacement for injured top scorer Juan Pablo Angel. Thomas Hitzlsperger returned in midfield in place of Peter Whittingham, who dropped to substitute.

Villa: Sorensen, Delaney, Mellberg, Dublin, Samuel, Hendrie, McCann, Hitzlsperger, Barry, Vassell, Crouch. Subs: Johnsen, Whittingham, Allback, Ridgewell, Postma.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Hunt, N'Gotty, Thome, Charlton, Frandsen, Campo, Ba, Stelios, Djorkaeff, Davies. Subs: Barness, Pedersen, Moreno, Vaz Te, Poole.

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).

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