Hakon Valdimarsson was making his seventh appearance for Brentford
At a glance
Icelandic goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson recovers from blunder to save from John McGinn and Matty Cash in shootout
Harvey Elliott marks full debut with Villa's first goal of the season - their first in eight hours of competitive football
Aaron Hickey scores from another Brentford long throw
Hickey's first goal since April 2022, after almost two years out with injury
Aston Villa's early-season troubles deepened as Brentford goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson recovered from a blunder to become the Bees' penalty shootout hero in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Iceland international Valdimarsson was crestfallen in the first half, after letting Harvey Elliott's weak shot squirm both through his hands and between his legs, but was mobbed by his team-mates at the end.
The 23-year-old saved the opening spot-kick from John McGinn low to his right and then denied Matty Cash, allowing Mikkel Damsgaard to settle the tie with Brentford's fourth successful penalty from four.
Valdimarsson also saved from Cash and Morgan Rogers late in normal time after a shaky opening 60 minutes which featured one attempted punch that almost went out for a corner.
Elliott's goal was Villa's first of the season - their first in more than eight hours of competitive football - but was not enough to seal their first win of the campaign, coming on the back of their winless start across four games in the Premier League.
That opener was gifted to them, after they had struggled to create in the first half, with Vitaly Janelt caught in possession playing out from the back - even before Valdimarsson's error allowed Elliott to mark his first Villa start with a goal.
Villa were then unable to deal with another Brentford long throw - after the one which earned them an injury-time draw with Chelsea on Saturday - in the 57th minute as Aaron Hickey swept in a fine volley to equalise and score for the first time since a strike for Bologna in April 2022, after almost two years out with injuries.
It continues a sorry run in the League Cup - this the fourth time Villa have been knocked out in their opening game in the competition in the past five seasons - and will do little to lift the mood at Villa Park.
More woe for Villa
Matty Cash was one of two Villa players to have their penalties saved
When Villa's opener squeezed in their travelling support broke into chants of "we scored a goal". There was to be no further celebration.
After a difficult transfer window and a summer dominated by discussions around the profit and sustainability rules, their start to the season has been downbeat. This defeat only adds to that feeling.
Elliott's strike did not open the goalscoring floodgates.
They did not have another shot on target until Cash's back-post effort was saved by Valdimarsson in the 82nd minute, though Jadon Sancho did hit the post on his first appearance for the club.
Sancho was a peripheral figure on the left while Elliott played centrally, sometimes alongside makeshift striker Donyell Malen, with £30m summer signing Evann Guessand appearing raw on the right.
Elliott, on his first start since joining from Liverpool, had a few bright moments but Villa threatened most in the final quarter when Ollie Watkins and Rogers were brought on from the bench.
One boost was the return of Boubacar Kamara for a cameo in a midfield that has been ravaged by injuries.
Over the next week they travel to play newly promoted Sunderland and then begin their Europa League campaign against Bologna. A win is badly needed.
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