Wrexham were well beaten by Aston Villa in the second round of the Carling Cup at The Racecourse with Shaun Maloney taking star billing with two goals in a five goal thrashing for the Red Dragons.

Brian Carey made five changes for the visit of the Premiership side with Michael Jones, Steve Evans, Mark Jones, Conal Murtagh and Eifion Williams coming in for Anthony Williams, Richard Hope, Danny Williams, Matty Done and Neil Roberts respectively.

It was a glorious evening in North Wales as Villa kicked off attacking the Kop end of the ground. The Kop was open again and an early effort by Shaun Maloney caused the spectators on the famous old end a moment of concern as he fired high and wide from a first minute free kick

Wrexham certainly started brightly playing a 4-5-1 formation with Michael Proctor up front on his own and won a corner after a good run by Eifion Williams. It was easily cleared by the Villa defence however.

Villa won their first corner on 7 minutes, taken by Barry it caused a moment of concern in the Wrexham area but was put over the bar by a Villa forward. At the other end a dangerous cross by Simon Spender was cleared at the expense of a Wrexham corner which was well defended by Cahill, who cleared for another corner which Wrexham totally wasted.

The lively Maloney forced Michael Jones into a diving save on 11 minutes, turning a low drive away for a corner. The visitors put together a good spell of pressure but the Reds defence stood up to it well enough, one tackle from Ryan Valentine on Agbonlahor was memorable in this period of play. Both sides were passing the ball well without really creating a clear cut chance. The atmosphere was good with Aston Villa bringing a good following with them and the Wrexham fans being well up for the game.

Shaun Maloney shot over on 24 minutes, cutting in well from the wing once again but leaning back as he hit his shot.Two minutes later a good run by Mark Jones earned a free kick 25 yards out. Taken by Chris Llewellyn it took a couple of deflections but was cleared by the Villa defence as all the pace was taken out of it.

On 29 minutes a superb run and curling shot with his right foot by Shaun Maloney put Aston Villa one up beating Michael Jones low down by his left hand post. Maloney had warned Wrexham on a couple of occasions earlier and this time he made them pay. The visitors penned Wrexham back into their own half and Michael Jones scrambled a Luke Moore header away for a corner. Villa's Premiership quality was showing in this period of play as they kept the ball well and made Wrexham work very hard to get it back.

Michael Jones miss kicked a back pass away for a corner on 38 minutes and as Wrexham struggled to clear the ball it was worked wide to Gabriel Agbonlahor who fired a low cross shot just wide of the Wrexham goal.

Villa continued to control play as we went into one minute added time and Maloney again worried Michael Jones with a curling shot which just cleared the bar.

Second Half

No changes at half time as Wrexham kicked off attacking the Kop and an early break away by Eifion Williams saw him force a fine save from Stuart Taylor as his shot took a slight deflection. Villa bounced straight back and a fierce cross cum shot from Gardner clipped the top of Michael Jones cross bar in a lively opening to the second half.

With 48 minutes gone a good run by Eifion Williams after Valentine had won the ball from Gardner, Williams crossed and Chris Llewellyn's volley was pushed away for a corner by Taylor. At the other end a sharp turn and shot by Marlon Harewood on 51 minutes struck the post and ran to safety with Jones well beaten. A minute later a Gareth Barry free kick was flicked over Michael Jones and into the net with his head by Luke Moore.

Brian Carey replaced Murtagh with Marc Williams as Wrexham went to 4-4-2 in an attempt to get back into the game, but Villa still continued to attack at will and a good interchange between Moore and Harewood saw the former shoot over the bar.

Josh Johnson came on with just over an hour gone to replace the hard working Michael Proctor but a minute later Nigel Reo-Coker broke through a Shaun Pejic tackle and slotted the ball coolly passed the diving Michael Jones. Wrexham to their credit kept plugging away and Steve Evans put a header well over the bar from a free kick.

Michael Jones did well on 66 minutes saving at the feet of the lightening quick Agbonlahor after a good run by the Villa player. Martin O'Neill replaced Reo-Coker with Bulgarian international Stilyan Petrov on 67 minutes. With 71 minutes gone Shaun Maloney fired in a long range effort which beat Michael Jones for pace and gave Villa a four goal advantage.

Ryan Valentine got the game's first yellow card for a fierce tackle on Marlon Harewood with 14 minutes left.Osborne warmed Jones hands with a twenty yard effort at the expense of a corner, taken quickly by Maloney it was put into the net by Marlon Harewood for the fifth.

Neil Taylor replaced Eifion Williams with 11 minutes left but Villa were totally in control. Maloney fired a free kick wide of Jones goal. Wrexham did keep trying but on the night the visitors were a class above and hopefully Wrexham's players will have learned from the experience.

The three added minutes at the end of the half saw Levi Mackin fire a left foot shot well over and the final whistle will have come as a welcome relief to the Wrexham players who were well beaten on the night.

Wrexham (4-5-1): Michael Jones, Simon Spender, Shaun Pejic, Steve Evans, Ryan Valentine, Eifion Williams (Neil Taylor 79), Conal Murtagh (Marc Williams 55), Levi Mackin, Mark Jones, Chris Llewellyn, Michael Proctor (Josh Johnson 61).
Subs: Anthony Williams, Mike Williams.

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Stuart Taylor, Craig Gardner, Olaf Mellberg, Gary Cahill, Gareth Barry, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Isiah Osborne, Nigel Reo-Coker (Stilyan Petrov 67), Shaun Maloney, Marlon Harewood, Luke Moore.
Subs: Scott Carson, Martin Laursen, Ashley Young, John Carew.

Referee: G.Laws
Attendance: 8,221
Away: 2,129

Bookings -
Wrexham: Ryan Valentine (foul)