Aston Villa defender Matt Lowton wants Wembley redemption

Villains travel to Carrow Road to take on Norwich

Matt Lowton wants to put Wembley heartache behind him by helping Aston Villa reach the Capital One Cup final.

The spotlight will be on Villa boss Paul Lambert when he returns to former club Norwich for tonight's quarter-final for the first time since his acrimonious summer departure.

But right-back Lowton is also a man on a mission after his previous club Sheffield United suffered League One play-off final agony against Huddersfield in May.

Lowton, who missed from the spot in the marathon penalty shoot-out which the Terriers eventually won 8-7, said: "Going to Wembley is a boyhood dream but losing there was the worst thing that has happened in my career up until now.

"We were all on the floor afterwards. We were second in the table for so long, but got overtook by the other side of the city (Sheffield Wednesday) which made it even worse.

"Now it would be fantastic to go back down there to Wembley in a cup final."

Villa will take a break from their Barclays Premier League relegation fight after a four-game unbeaten run which has yielded six points.

Lowton said: "The league is the main priority but a good cup run is fantastic. We are already in the quarter-finals and we've got a great chance of getting to the last four.

"We will go to Norwich with high hopes. If we get into the semi-finals of the cup it will add an extra dimension to the season."

Lambert and Norwich, whom he led to successive promotions, are suing each other for breach of contract.

Lowton believes Lambert deserves a good reception after his three years of success at Carrow Road but knows it is unlikely to happen.

He said: "When Norwich came to Villa earlier in the season the gaffer said 'Let me deal with that side of things and you just go out there and get a result.'

"He deserves a good reception when he goes back to Norwich.

"I think he will get the crowd against him but, if they take a step back and look at what he did for them, two promotions from League One to the Premier League, anyone deserves credit for that."

Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood is cup-tied after playing for previous club Crewe earlier in the competition.

Skipper and central defender Ron Vlaar is still doubtful with the calf problem which has ruled him out of the last three matches.

PA