Bradford City have beaten Aston Villa 3-1 in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final tie.

Matt Duke was the hero once again as the League Two side put one foot in the Wembley final.

The visitors took the initiative in the early stages, with Christian Benteke and Charles N'Zogbia both testing Duke in the Bradford goal.

However, it was Phil Parkinson's men who took the lead in the 19th minute through Nahki Wells.

Villa only half-cleared a corner and the 22-year-old was able to keep a cool head to slot past Shay Given after the ball had been driven back into the area.

Fabian Delph made a last-ditch clearance off the line from James Hanson's goal-bound effort, but Bradford continued to look vulnerable at the back.

Duke was called upon once more before half time, as Gabriel Agbonlahor found himself with a yard of space inside the area, only to be left frustrated.

The Bantams held out for the break, but the action continued at the same frenzied pace after the restart. Villa pushed forward in search of a leveller, but found Duke in inspired form once again.

The 35-year-old was alert to stop Agbonlahor, Ciaran Clark and Benteke - all in the space of five minutes.

The League Two side were then given a massive let-off when Darren Bent headed over the bar with an open goal at his mercy.

Valley Parade was sent into delirium 15 minutes remaining when Rory McArdle nodded Gary Jones's corner past Given.

Paul Lambert's men finally found a way past Duke with eight minutes remaining.

Andreas Weimann latched onto Benteke's flick-on before lifting the ball over the Bradford keeper to restore hope for the Villans.

Any hope that Villa had of finding an equaliser was quickly extinguished by Carl McHugh, who headed home another corner from Jones in the 87th minute.