BLUES gave Premiership giants Aston Villa the fright of their lives before a second half capitulation left them reeling from their heaviest defeat as a Football League club.

The Blues were in dreamland when they led 3-1 at the break through headed goals from Nathan Tyson, Roger Johnson and Tommy Mooney.

But they folded in the second half as the Midlanders ran in seven without reply to complete an astonishing comeback and break Wycombe hearts.

Disappointed Blues boss John Gorman said: "The scoreline makes it look as if we were rubbish, but I'm proud of my players. In the first half we looked like the Premiership side."

Wanderers were on the brink of one of the greatest nights in their history before Villa staged a magnificent fightback aided by a deflected goal, an own goal and a dodgy penalty.

The fact that Villa staged the mother of all comebacks in the second half should take nothing away from Wycombe.

They surprised their multi-million pound oppo-nents with a performance of such quality, verve and passion that they were full value for their interval lead.

It could even have been 4-1 instead of 3-1 if Mike Williamson's downward header had not bounced up with such force that it went over the bar instead of under it.

Only six minutes had elapsed when Nathan Tyson scored his 11th goal in 11 games to put Wycombe ahead.

The striker powered in a near-post header to convert a perfect right-wing cross from Danny Senda after Stefan Oakes got the move started.

Villa responded within eight minutes. Milan Baros crossed from the right and Stephen Davis steered his shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

Ironically, the goal came from a swift breakaway after Wycombe threatened a second when Tyson misjudged a ball into the box when he was well placed to volley goalwards.

But Wycombe regained the lead in the 18th minute.

From Oakes' left wing corner, Roger Johnson sent a looping header which dropped over Thomas Sorensen and into the net.

If that was embarrassing for Villa, worse was to come on 39 minutes when Tommy Mooney made it 3-1.

Again Oakes was the provider, crossing into the middle where Mooney dived between two defenders to head past Sorensen.

The goal prompted a half time walk-out by some Villa fans and when the pint-sized youngsters from Woodley Kestrels were scoring penal-ties in front of them during the half time entertain-ment, the visiting suppo-rters urged Villa Boss David O'leary to sign them up.

But while they ridiculed their own manager, he was shaming his players in the dressing room and giving them a half time roasting which took just three minutes to work.

Aaron Hughes crossed from the right and the £6.5 million European Cup winner Baros tapped home.

Villa immediately acce-pted the 48th minute lifeline and seized control.

Blues' midfield were uanble to get a tackle in as the Midlanders began to show why they are 62 places above Wycombe in the league ladder.

Wycombe needed to get a foul in or to pick up a booking for a traditional basement division tackle but it never came as Villa took control.

The growing feeling that they would save their blushes increased when Tyson limped off with a dead leg on 54 minutes to be replaced by Sergio Torres.

With the pacy Blues goal ace slumped on the bench, Villa were able to commit more men forward and James Milner finished superbly from 20 yards to put them level.

Five minutes later, Villa took the lead for the first time as Clint Easton stuck out a boot to try and clear Patrik Berger's shot but ended up scoring the first own goal of his career.

After such an amazing night, hope still sprung eternal that Wycombe would score again, but those dreams were ended when Gareth Barry slammed home a 73rd minute penalty after Danny Senda was wrongly adjudged to have fouled Baros in the box.

Gorman's fury with the referee had not subsided by the time Barry scored his second and Villa's sixth with a wonderful 78th minute finish, brilliantly adjusting his stride to volley past Frank Talia.

Wanderers, to their credit refused to give up, and Torres struck the Villa post before the little Argentinian was put firmly back in his place by a dreadful tackle from J Lloyd Samuel, which earned the Villa man a booking.

The Midlanders did not finish on a sour note though.

Milner picked his spot to ram in his second on 86 minutes and Davis completed his brace in injury time.

And it could have been worse. Talia made three stunning saves to keep the score in single figures on a night when Wanderers finished well beaten but still walked off to a fully-deserved standing ovation and thoughts of what might have been.

Blues: Talia, Senda, Williamson, Johnson, Easton; Dixon, Burnell (Anya 84), Oakes, Bloomfield, Mooney (Stonebridge 78), Tyson (Torres 54).Not used: Williams, Martin.

Scorers: Tyson 6, Johnson 18, Mooney 39.

Villa: Sorensen, Hughes (De La Cruz 83), Cahill, Ridgewell, Samuel, Milner, Davis, Barry, Berger (Hendrie 78), Baros, Angel (Moore 68). Not used: Mellberg, Taylor.

Scorers: Davis 14, 90; Baros 48, Milner 64, 86; Esaton og 69, Barry 73, 78.

Booked: Samuel.

Attendance: 5,365 (Villa 1,387).

Wycombe 3, Aston Villa 8