James Milner marked his 23rd birthday with two goals to lead Aston Villa to a 2-1 victory over Gillingham in today’s other third-round game.
Signed from Newcastle in August, the winger gave Villa a 13th-minute lead at the Priestfield stadium when he swapped passes with Stilian Petrov just outside the Gillingham area and curled a right-footed shot around goalkeeper Simon Royce.
League One team Gillingham levelled in the 57th when Simeon Jackson collected the ball on his chest, charged away from Villa defender Zat Knight with a burst of speed and powered a right-foot shot that clipped the inside of the near post and beat goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
Milner’s second came from the penalty spot in the 79th after Gills captain Andy Miller was judged to have brought down Ashley Young. Milner drove the ball hard into the bottom corner of the net to put seven-time FA Cup winner Villa into the last 32.