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Aston Villa battled valiantly to clinch a 1-0 victory against Slavia Prague and claim three points in the UEFA Cup group stage.

A tense affair was notable for John Carew's first half goal, which struck the forward from Steve Sidwell's speculative shot, and a second half of relentless pressure from the hosts.

Martin O'Neill's side defended stoically to retain their narrow lead throughout, despite Jaroslav Cerny having a goal ruled offside for Slavia, while Ashley Young hit the post with a 28th minute free-kick.

Martin O'Neill reshuffled his side for their visit to Prague, including giving keeper Brad Guzan only his second start for the club, but the American was in inspired form.

Guzan made a fine point-blank stop from Mikael Tavares as the midfielder forced his way into the Villa area and drove his shot low to the keeper's left, while Matej Krajcik was too denied minutes later.

Steve Sidwell made a bright start in the centre of midfield and it was his raking long ball which Craig Gardner met crisply on the volley, bringing a fine save from Slavia keeper Martin Vaniak.

Sidwell was again at the forefront when the midfielder unleashed an optimistic shot which took a cruel deflection off team-mate John Carew and flew past Vaniak. The imposing Norwegian was credited with the goal, to the dismay of the less prolific Sidwell.

Carew then contrived to squander three glorious chances to add to his tally for the evening, scuffing a shot in the 4th minute and tamely toe-poking two further efforts straight at Vaniak.

Young struck the post with an exquisite, curling free-kick from wide of the Slavia penalty area, which had Vaniak beaten, but that was to be Villa's last meaningful chance.

Slavia dominated the second half and, in addition to Cerny's strike which was correctly adjudged to have been offside, Marek Jarolim sliced a close-range shot into the side-netting to give Villa a further reprieve.

Cerny then went close again with a flashing drive across Guzan's goalmouth in the 78th minute, but the keeper looked to have the shot covered as Shorey shepherded it behind.

O'Neill will have been ecstatic with the stubborn resistance provided by his team in the closing stages as Slavia continued to pile on the pressure, but a weak shot by Ladislav Volesak was all the hosts could muster.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport