SHEFFIELD, Jan 8: Sheffield United midfielder Andy Liddell fired in two late goals in as many minutes to make Aston Villa the first Premiership casualty in this season's FA Cup.

Liddell's 82nd and 83rd minute strikes sealed a 3-1 win for the Championship side after Danny Cullip had cancelled out Gareth Barry's opener for Villa, who have now crashed out of the tournament in the third round for a fourth consecutive season.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for the Blades but they had a little help from Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, who was at fault on both of Liddell's crucial goals.

The first, a close-range shot from a tight angle, went through the Danish international's legs after Liddell had got in behind the Villa back four from what looked like an offside position.

Villa were still reeling from that blow when Liddell settled the encounter with a shot from the edge of the area which, despite a slight deflection off defender Lloyd Samuel, Sorensen should have saved.

It had all been a very different story for the Dane in the opening 45 minutes, when only his saves kept Villa on level terms.

The best of them kept out a powerful close-range header from Phil Jagielka following a corner from Liddell, who also had a long-range shot well-saved.

Villa looked set to capitalise on their goalkeeper's heroics when they took the lead within two minutes of the restart.

Lee Hendrie clipped a pass from inside the centre circle in between Sheffield's centrebacks and Barry ran into the space before unleashing a right-foot shot from 25 yards that dipped over Paddy Kenny in the Sheffield goal.

But David O'Leary's side were only able to protect their lead for eight minutes before they made a complete hash of defending a free-kick from close to the corner flag to the left of Sorensen's goal.

Jan Harley's inswinging delivery was allowed to drop to knee-height inside the six-yard box and an unchallenged Cullip was able to poke the ball past Sorensen.

From then on Sheffield always looked the more likely winners although Villa will be left nursing a grievance over Liddell's first goal as he was clearly in an offside position when he ran on to Alan Quinn's flick-on before beating Sorensen from the corner of the six-yard box.

In another earlier kick-off Wovlverhampton Wanderers bundedled out last year's surprise finalists Milwall 2-0.

Third round results