Damien Johnson felt his side lacked a cutting edge as Rovers Under-23s exited the Premier League Cup at the last 16 stage for the second season running.

Kelsey Mooney put Aston Villa 1-0 up inside 40 seconds at Villa Park before Callum O’Hare doubled the advantage 10 minutes from time to secure their progress into the quarter-finals.

Between the two goals Rovers had the better of the possession and territory but, apart from an Okera Simmonds shot which hit the bar, they struggled for clear-cut openings.

And Johnson said: “We were disappointed with the way we started the game, we gave ourselves a lot to do.

“But they did settle down eventually and generally in the first two thirds we did some good things but missed something in that final third, which is very important, the end product.

“It comes from the top end of the pitch but you’re looking for someone to unlock the door all over the pitch and unfortunately for all our bits of play we couldn’t get that finish or final shot and pass.

“Ultimately I said to the lads it’s about the top end of the pitch.

“That’s the difference, how good can we be?

“The lads that play up there are judged on that, goals and assists, can a midfielder chip on? Set plays we played some good balls in as well.

“There’s lots to get out of the game, how we started and what we can do better and obviously the last little bit which is so important.”

There was disappointment for Rovers early on as they lost Harry Chapman to injury just 10 minutes in as the Middlesbrough loanee suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury which saw him miss five months of action.

However, they settled into the game but failed to make the most of some good openings in and around the Villa area.

Andrew Fisher was a relative spectator after the opening Villa goal, though Charley Doyle made an excellent block on the half-hour to deny O’Hare from six yards out.

Rovers were well in the game in the second half, Simmonds hitting the bar on the hour mark after an enterprising run forward which started inside his own half.

Joe Grayson saw a free-kick saved while several balls flashed across the Villa six-yard box.

But they were caught out at the other end, with O’Hare burying an effort into the bottom corner from 18 yards to settle the game.

The tie was a meeting of the top two sides in the Premier League Two Division Two table, Rovers leading the way by a point with a game in hand.

And Johnson added: “They were more ruthless than us.

“They capitalised on our mistake at the start.

“A clinical finish then to finish the game at 2-0.

“Up until then we huffed and puffed and probably edged it in territory but it wasn’t to be.

“We have five games left and a lot for the lads to play for and it’s important that they don’t let their heads drop and we dust ourselves down and get prepared for that one.”

Rovers topped Group B after their six round robin games, but were knocked out by Villa in the first knockout stage as they were by Swansea in last season’s competition.

Rovers: Fisher, C Doyle, Magloire (Barnes, 82), Grayson, Buckley, Hardcastle, Tomlinson, Travis, Evans (Thompson, 88), Chapman (Vale, 12), Simmonds.

Not used: Byrne, Platt.