ASTON VILLA boss Carla Ward admitted a to “horrible mistake” in fielding ineligible player Noelle Maritz which could knock them out of the League Cup.

Defender Maritz was brought off the bench at half-time in Villa’s 7-0 rout over Sunderland on Wednesday with the score at 3-0 when she stepped onto the pitch.

Maritz joined Villa from Arsenal in January but had previously made three appearances for the Gunners earlier in the competition.