Villa had the first opportunity of the game when on eight minutes Steven Davies fired over when well placed after good work by Luke Moore. Blues: Doyle, Tebily, Sadler, Oji, Martin Taylor, Carter, Anderton (Kilkenny, 65), Clemence, Barrowman, Till, Motteram. Subs not used: Dormand, Parratt, Painter, Curtis.
Blues were having the lions share of the possession with Darren Anderton impressing wide right and on 27 minutes really should have taken the lead but Andrew Barrowman fired straight at Villa keeper Stefan Postma from 12 yards out, the ball hitting the keepers legs and spinning out for a Blues corner.
Peter Till then went close with a cute left footed curling effort from just inside the box on 39 minutes.
It was the home side however who broke the deadlock right on the stroke of half time. Craig Gardner found himself unmarked in the box and he fired home from six yards out.
Five minutes after the break Villa looked to have doubled their lead when Moore latched on to a Nixon cross. His low shot beat the on-rushing Doyle but Martin Taylor was on hand to clear off the line.
Blues equalised 12 minutes into the second half when Tebily's long ball found Barrowman out left, his cross found Carter in the box and the Blues midfielder slotted home from five yards out.
Just a minute later however Villa were back in front through the impressive Moore.
Barrowman had a great chance to level matters on 63 minutes but he shot wide when clean through on the Villa goal.
Blues debutant Darren Anderton made way for Neil Kilkenny on 65 minutes.
Davies gave Villa a 3-1 lead on seventy minutes with a sweet shot from eight yards out, Moore the provider on this occasion.
Blues came close to reducing the deficit five minutes from time when Kilkenny fired a rasping 20-yard shot just over the bar.
The home side went 4-1 in front courtesy of an own goal three minutes from time. Nix's ball found Moore, the Villa striker rounded keeper Doyle and his shot across the face of goal went in off Blues centre back Martin Taylor.
Villa: Postma, Ward, O'Connor, Cahill, Drobny, Berson, Cooke (Paul, 60), Davis, Moore, Nix, Gardner (Aaritalo, 74). Subs not used: Olejnik, Troest, Agbonlahor.