JON Harley certainly has enough experience of Premiership football to make sure you sit up and listen when he talks about the narrow margin separating the top flight and the Championship.

Forget the likes of Chelsea as they look to have the title wrapped up by Christmas. It's the band of equally-matched teams occupying the middle ground he is debating, and certainly Wigan and West Ham United are adding weight to the argument that battle-hardened Championship sides are now stepping up a level ready to compete with the big boys.

But bridging that gap ultimately proved to be a bridge too far for Burnley on their first visit to Villa Park for 30 years.

And one of the main reasons that gap still exists is the good, old-fashioned goalscorer. The player who can turn a good chance into a matchwinning opportunity.

Step forward Kevin Phillips, who ensured all the Clarets hard graft, sweet football and never-say-die spirit would end in disappointment.

There was never a doubt that the former England striker would find the target when he instigated the 22nd minute move to score a sublime goal.

But from that moment on, boy did Burnley make Villa fight to avenge last year's defeat at Turf Moor at the same stage of the competition.

To a man, they did manager Steve Cotterill proud as they shrugged off a sluggish start - possibly paying the Premiership hosts a litttle too much respect - to deserve at least a shot at extra time.

But when Danny Karbassiyoon's point blank volley was somehow deflected over the bar and the Clarets were denied a good penalty shout for hand ball, it was clear Villa were destined to avoid a cup upset.

Burnley even shrugged off a massive blow when yet another defensive injury forced a pre-match reshuffle.

The Clarets have already used eight central defensive pairings this season and with John McGreal sidelined through injury, on-loan Wolves defender Keith Lowe returned to partner Frank Sinclair.

Villa made one ominous change, promoting Columbian striker Juan Pablo Angel back to partner Kevin Phillips to underline manager David O'Leary's vow to take the Carling Cup seriously.

However, after a few early scares, Burnley settled and Garreth O'Connor perhaps should have done better when he hooked John Spicer's right wing cross high over the bar from the edge of the area.

The first real scare for Burnley came in the 21st minute when the impressive James Milner was given far too much time to cross and Angel, who headed a beauty in the correspnding fixture last season, rose to power another header just wide of the angle with Brian Jensen beaten.

But within seconds Kevin Phillips was more accurate as the Premiership side grabbed the lead. The former Sunderland, Southampton and England striker picked up a loose ball 30-yards out, played a neat one-two with Milner and swept through the centre of the Burnley defence before coolly slotting the ball into the bottom left hand corner.

That might have rattled lesser sides, but the Clarets recovered to end the half on top and threatening an equaliser. Irish teenager Chris McCann, who put in a tireless shift as cover for the suspended Micah Hyde, has already served notice that he can strike a mean ball from distance this season, but an ambitious 30-yard effort failed to trouble Sorensen.

However, that was just a sight-setter for another wicked drive seven minutes before the break that crucially flicked off Milner's boot to flash inches wide of a stunned Sorensen's left hand upright.

And with Burnley now seriously testing the Villa defence, Spicer then curled another effort just wide from the edge of the area following good work from Garreth O'Connor.

The break did Burnley no harm and they again came out baring their teeth. Garreth O'Connor lined up a trademark shot that was charged down just in time and when Michael Duff cut into the area on the right, he should have found Akinbiyi before his attempted cut-back was deflected for a corner.

The game was now a thrilling cup tie as the Championship side jabbed away at the top flight heavyweights, while Villa tried to keep the Clarets at arms length.

But the Villans too had their moments; Barry driving a ball unchallenged across the Burnley six-yard box and Phillips attempting an overhead kick that Jensen was equal to.

The Clarets went for broke with 15 minutes left, throwing on Gifton Noel-Williams on for Spicer and Wade Elliott making way for Karbassiyoon's long-awaited debut after months of frustration with a pelvic problem.

And after Villa substitute Luke Moore showed the Clarets back line a clean pair of heels to force a fine save from Jensen, the Clarets camwe within a whisker of a deserved leveller.

Karbassiyoon had hardly had a touch of note before he challenged for a header five minutes from time and saw the ball drop invitingly at his feet eight yards out.

A swing of the boot sent the ball towards the top left hand corner, but somehow Gavin McCann threw out a boot to get the faintest of defelctions and sned the ball over the bar.

There was one more scare for Villa in the dying seconds when Garreth O'Connor chased a lost cause and saw his cross strike Barry somewhere between th echest and upper arm.

However, loud appeals from players and the 3,000 or so noisy Burnley fans could not persuade ref Uriah Rennie to point to the spot.