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Hakon Valdimarsson was making his seventh appearance for Brentford At a glance Icelandic goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson recovers from blunder to save from John Mc Ginn and Matty Cash in shootout Harvey Elliott marks full debut with Villa's first goal of the season - their first in eight hours of competitive football Aaron Hickey scores from another Brentford long throw Hickey's first goal since April 2022, after almost two years out with injury Aston Villa's early-season troubles deepened as Brentford goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson recovered from a blunder to become the Bees' penalty shootout hero in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Iceland international Valdimarsson was crestfallen in the first half, after letting Harvey Elliott's weak shot squirm both through his hands and between his legs, but was mobbed by his team-mates at the end. The 23-year-old saved the opening spot-kick from John Mc Ginn low to his right and then denied Matty Cash, allowing Mikkel Damsgaard to settle the tie with Brentford's fourth successful penalty from four. Valdimarsson also saved from Cash and Morgan Rogers late in normal time after a shaky opening 60 minutes which featured one attempted punch that almost went out for a corner. Elliott's goal was Villa's first of the season - their first in more than eight hours of competitive football - but was not enough to seal their first win of the campaign, coming on the back of their winless start across four games in the Premier League. That opener was gifted to them, after they had struggled to create in the first half, with Vitaly Janelt caught in possession playing out from the back - even before Valdimarsson's error allowed Elliott to mark his first Villa start with a goal. Villa were then unable to deal with another Brentford long throw - after the one which earned them an injury-time draw with Chelsea on Saturday - in the 57th minute as Aaron Hickey swept in a fine volley to equalise and score for the first time since a strike for Bologna in April 2022, after almost two years out with injuries. It continues a sorry run in the League Cup - this the fourth time Villa have been knocked out in their opening game in the competition in the past five seasons - and will do little to lift the mood at Villa Park. Have your say on Brentford’s performance What did you make of Aston Villa's display? Matty Cash was one of two Villa players to have their penalties saved When Villa's opener squeezed in their travelling support broke into chants of "we scored a goal". There was to be no further celebration. After a difficult transfer window and a summer dominated by discussions around the profit and sustainability rules, their start to the season has been downbeat. This defeat only adds to that feeling. Elliott's strike did not open the goalscoring floodgates. They did not have another shot on target until Cash's back-post effort was saved by Valdimarsson in the 82nd minute, though Jadon Sancho did hit the post on his first appearance for the club. Sancho was a peripheral figure on the left while Elliott played centrally, sometimes alongside makeshift striker Donyell Malen, with £30m summer signing Evann Guessand appearing raw on the right. Elliott, on his first start since joining from Liverpool, had a few bright moments but Villa threatened most in the final quarter when Ollie Watkins and Rogers were brought on from the bench. One boost was the return of Boubacar Kamara for a cameo in a midfield that has been ravaged by injuries. Over the next week they travel to play newly promoted Sunderland and then begin their Europa League campaign against Bologna. A win is badly needed. After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Manager: Keith Andrews Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Manager: Unai Emery Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Keith Andrews Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Manager: Unai Emery Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 League Cup All competitions All competitions All competitions Match ends, Brentford 1(4), Aston Villa 1(2). Penalty Shootout ends, Brentford 1(4), Aston Villa 1(2). Goal! Brentford 1(4), Aston Villa 1(2). Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner. Penalty saved. Matty Cash (Aston Villa) right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner by Hákon Valdimarsson (Brentford). Goal! Brentford 1(3), Aston Villa 1(2). Yehor Yarmoliuk (Brentford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal. Goal! Brentford 1(2), Aston Villa 1(2). Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner. Goal! Brentford 1(2), Aston Villa 1(1). Reiss Nelson (Brentford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner. Goal! Brentford 1(1), Aston Villa 1(1). Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner. Goal! Brentford 1(1), Aston Villa 1. Fábio Carvalho (Brentford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner. Penalty saved. John Mc Ginn (Aston Villa) left footed shot saved in the bottom left corner by Hákon Valdimarsson (Brentford). Penalty Shootout begins Brentford 1, Aston Villa 1. Second Half ends, Brentford 1, Aston Villa 1. Handball by Nathan Collins (Brentford). Attempt saved. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Hákon Valdimarsson (Brentford). Assisted by Boubacar Kamara. Foul by John Mc Ginn (Aston Villa). Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time. John Mc Ginn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Fábio Carvalho (Brentford). Offside, Brentford. Michael Kayode is caught offside. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.