FOOTBALL: Gillingham 1-2 Aston Villa (04.01.09): Milner brace masks poor Villa performance

Two goals from James Milner, the second a contentious penalty, saved Aston Villa's blushes in an exciting third round FA Cup tie at the Priestfield Stadium.

Gillingham started the game brightly, but a poor clearance from Adam Miller allowed Milner in for a 14th minute opener. Villa's £12 million summer signing from Newcastle played a one-two with Stiliyan Petrov before side-footing coolly past the Gills' Simon Royce.

After the goal, Gillingham had much of the ball and pressed into the Villa half, but created few clear chances. Striker Simeon Jackson should have done better with a header at the back-post from a free-kick.

Nevertheless, it was Villa that should have gone in 2-0 up at half-time. Just before the break, an excellent James Milner cross was volleyed over by Nathan Delfouneso, to the visible disgust of manager Martin O'Neill. The 17 year old Delfouneso, who started due to Gabriel Agbonlahor's illness, was preferred to Marlon Harewood, suggesting that the latter may be surplus to requirements at Villa Park and on his way out in the January transfer window.

The second half began much as the first ended, and Gillingham scored a deserved goal just before the hour mark. Zat Knight, who was lucky to get away with a big mistake in the first half, was turned far too easily by Simeon Jackson who drilled his shot into the top-right corner. It was nothing more than the League Two side deserved.

Knight's mistake was symptomatic of Villa's defensive frailty. Both Curtis Davies and makeshift right-back Nigel Reo-Coker were booked in the first half and Nicky Shorey did nothing to suggest he would regain his place in the first eleven, which he has lost in recent weeks.

With only 13 minutes left on the clock, Ashley Young burst into the area and tumbled over Gillingham defender Adam Miller. Referee Stroud pointed to the spot, despite Young appearing to go down very easily, and James Milner, on his 23rd birthday, slotted home the penalty.

Villa go through to the fouth round to play Cheltenham or Doncaster, but speculation over certain players' futures will only be stoked by this performance.