Aston Villa 5 Preston 0:Darius Vassell doubled his tally for the season with a two-goal blast as Aston Villa cruised into the quarter-finals at the expense of First Division Preston.

Preston had disposed of Birmingham City in the previous round but they never seriously looked like reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

Villa were forced to make a midfield switch after 31 minutes with Ian Taylor limping out of the action to be replaced by Mark Kinsella.

But Villa didn't get their first until a minute before half-time when Vassell volleyed a ball from Kinsella into the net.

Vassell struck again in the 56th minute as he doubled Villa's lead.

Dion Dublin headed home the third, Juan Pablo Angel volleyed the fourth while Thomas Hitzlsperger completed the rout.

Blackburn 4 Rotterdam 0:

Blackburn's new signing Hakan Sukur may have a job on his hands deposing Dwight Yorke or Andy Cole, whose partnership clicked into place tonight to carry the holders past hapless Rotherham.

Yorke headed home the first before Cole slotted coolly for the second.

The Trinidadian's third came when David Thompson's long-range shot fell to him off the post, and Cole teed up Damien Duff for a fourth to seal the result inside the first 45 minutes and book a place in the last eight.

Blackburn gave Alan Kelly a start in goal, opting to rest Brad Friedel as he continues his recovery from a knee operation. Also absent were club captain Garry Flitcroft (ankle) and David Dunn (hamstring).

Graeme Souness gave starts to youngsters Neil Danns and James McEveley.