Goalkeeper Matt Duke, 35, was once again immense for his side, keeping his side in the game in the first half with a series of saves before his side exposed the Premier League side’s defensive frailties.

“It is unreal. I can’t believe we beat them. We thought we could get something but a 3-1 lead is fantastic,” he said.

If the Bantams can finish the job at Villa Park, they will become the first club from the fourth tier league make the League Cup final since Rochdale in 1962.

The Yorkshire side has already beaten Premier League teams Wigan and Arsenal to make the semis.

They took an early lead through their speedy striker Nahki Wells, who was a nightmare for Villa’s sub-par defence.

Headed goals from midfielders Rory McArdle and Carl McHugh after Villa’s Andreas Weimann’s goal got the away side back to 2-1 momentarilly, finished the job.

Bradford manager Phil Parkinson was “absolutely delighted” with his side. “From the first minute to the last the lads were tremendous,” he said.

“But equally we know we’re only halfway there, we’ve got a very difficult job in a fortnight’s time.”

Parkinson believed his lads had played better than their quarter final in which they took giants Arsenal to penalties and won their ninth shootout in a row.

“Against Arsenal it was a great night for us but I think the all-round performance tonight was better,” he said. “Villa played a very attacking team and we had to defend well, and equally they left a lot of space on the pitch for us to play.”

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