A full debut for Downing inspires that little bit more from Young and Milner. Over at Old Trafford meanwhile, it was young Darron Gibson who stole top billing, lighting up an otherwise routine 2-0 win over Redknapp’s Spurs. Here’s the need to know stuff for us fantasy managers from last night’s Care-less Cup action…

Starting with Villa’s 4-2 win at Fratton Park and O’Neill showed his hand and solved the conundrum presented to him by having three quality wingers available by bringing Milner in from the right, to a central midfield role. Downing took the left flank, Ashley Young the right. The tactical tweak saw goals for each player, while the convincing performance Milner provided evidence that the Villa boss may have stumbled on a formula that could work. It was Downing’s performance that earned specific praise from the Villa boss…

“Stewart Downing can play left or right and he can also play off the centre forward, so I never really got too concerned about it…He can manoeuvre it, he can play it, he’s got a turn of pace and when he is fully wound up he’ll be a proper asset to us.”

Sidwell was the fall guy who made way in midfield; aside from that Heskey came in for Carew up front as O’Neill fielded a full strength side, emphasising the importance of the tournament to Villa.

Downing’s first full appearance indicates that he is now very close to a league start, despite O’Neill’s insistence that he is still short of fitness. Long-term it appears that Milner could be set for a central midfield role but, on the evidence of last night, that may not hamper his fantasy returns. Downing meanwhile would be a prospect. Another mid-price option (currently 7.4 in the Fantasy Premier League), he will provide ample supply to the strikers and play a prominent role from set-plays. This could have an impact on both Young and Milner but, given Villa’s forthcoming fixtures (HUL mun sun STK ars LIV), it’s unlikely that many will be considering further investment in O’Neill’s side for a good few weeks regardless.

In contrast to O’Neill, Avram Grant imposed a number of changes on his Portsmouth team-sheet. There were five changes in all, with Webber starting up front for the rested Dindane. Utaka partnered him with Piquionne also making way. In midfield we saw Belhadj and Hughes replace O’Hara and Boateng. Ben Haim shifted to centre-back with Vanden Borre coming in at right-back. There’s little to take from this to be honest – other than clearly, Grant prioritised the league clash with Burnley this weekend. Expect O’Hara, Boateng (both cup tied here) and the front two to make returns for this game then.

United’s 2-0 win over Spurs was a hollow affair played out in front of a muted Old Trafford audience. Two sparkling strikes by Darron Gibson did their best to ignite the evening and has spawned talk of his future first team opportunities this morning. We shouldn’t get too carried away by this however – the likes of Fletcher, Scholes, Hargreaves and Carrick are still ahead of him in the United midfield pecking order. I missed Anderson from that list as he appears to have slipped from favour having started both last night’s game and last week’s second string Champions League defeat to Beziktas. While that offers some clarity, Gibson’s emergence only adds further doubt to Ferguson’s midfield lineup over the Christmas period – not a good thing.

Elsewhere the United boss, in the main, kept faith with the side that took the field against Beziktas. Kuszczak, remained between the sticks after the win at Portsmouth, Ritchie De Laet took the left-back role, and Berbatov returned up front. The Bulgiaran, along with Park are likely to be threatening for inclusion at West Ham this weekend; Vidic and Brown (rock solid in the main) seem almost certain to start – particularly if O’Shea and Evans continue to be troubled by injury.

Redknapp made changes to his Spurs lineup – five in all. Bale, Bentley, Jenas, Keane and Hutton were all given starts. None of that lot, except perhaps Keane, look likely to get near the eleven when Spurs make the trip to beleaguered Everton at the weekend.

Finally, the evening brought several players onto the “Suspension Tightrope” (which is now present in your right-hand menu by the way). Villa’s Agbonlahor is now just one yellow from a one match ban, as is Portsmouth’s Kaboul and Brown. All three picked up cautions in last night’s games.