Ghana striker Jordan Ayew created the penalty for Aston Villa that gave them the consolation goal in their 2-1 defeat to Southampton leading to their exit from the English League Cup.

Ayew came on as a substitute as Aston Villa’s under-performing group crashed out of the Capital One Cup at the expense of Southampton who were average, but clinical, at St Mary’s Stadium.

Maya Yoshida and Graziano Pelle got the goals for the hosts who were able to labour through the game but still exploit Villa’s weaknesses with the easiest of blows.

Kevin MacDonald took charge of the Premier League’s worst team but his influence couldn’t stop the slide that Sherwood had started. A Scott Sinclair penalty in stoppage time was all Villa had to cheer.

A packed-out away end of 3000 fans once again proved what a credit they are to this struggling club.

They were vocal throughout but the sarcastic chants of ‘We’re ****’ would hardly have helped.

Stekelenburg then tipped over a Gabby Agbonlahor effort that looked to be dipping into the net after Jack Grealish and Jordan Ayew were introduced.

While most of the play was in the middle of the park, you always felt that Southampton could step up a gear if they needed to.

Sinclair did slam home a penalty in stoppage time after Virgil Van Dijk fouled Ayew in the penalty area but it counted for very little.

VILLA (4-4-2) : Guzan, Hutton, Clark, Crespo, Richardson, Bacuna (Grealish, 62) Westwood, Sanchez, Amavi (Ayew, 62) Agbonlahor, Gestede (Sinclair, 71) Subs not used: Bunn, Okore, Sinclair, Veretout, Gil,

SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1) : Stekelenburg, Targett, Caulker, Van Dijk, Yoshida, Wanyama, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Juanmi (Tadic, 68), Ramirez (S,Davis) Pelle. Subs not used: K Davis, Clasie, Fonte, Martina, Seager