That initial spurt of pressure saw Liverpool win a corner with Maxi Rodriguez heading the ball to Torres, but the Spanish striker's volley struck the post.
The Reds were almost caught unawares when Burak Yilmaz stole in to win a corner to the near post but he could not get the direction to his header as the ball went harmlessly across the area.
It meant penalties would be needed and after Baines and Anelka had both missed, Cole blazed into the stands and Everton captain Neville place his kick into the top corner to seal a famous win.
Brabin felt his side may have turned the corner after a convincing 4-1 win over Woking on Saturday.
It took Villa 22 minutes to win their first corner but Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen got a firm fist to Ashley Young's kick and his right hook was in action again as Young curled in a free-kick after debutant Abdoulaye Faye fouled Villa striker John Carew.
Bolton striker Johan Elmander struck a minute before the break with a volley into the top corner to claim the win.
As time ran out, it seemed they had done enough but a long ball clipped over the top by Xabi Alonso broke to Gerrard and he arrowed a fierce shot into the top corner to snatch the win for his side.
Darren Moore's header from a corner gave Barnsley hope after slack Swansea defending, but Pratley secured the win following a fine Andrea Orlandi set-up.
Shittu, whose only other goal this season came in the fourth-round win over Aston Villa, converted Chris Taylor's 43rd-minute corner kick with a thumping header.
Melchiot was close to making it two in the 80th minute as his header from a Kilbane corner flashed wide, before Valencia sealed Wigan's second successive home win.
But Larsson - who was previously at Arsenal - had the last word, cutting inside from the left and smashing a spectacular 25-yard shot into the top-right corner to end a breathless duel and seal Birmingham's first away league win since August.
Stoke's hopes of a first away win of the season received an early boost when they went ahead from the first corner of the match with Faye left totally unmarked at the far post to head in Danny Pugh's corner from the right-hand side.
Berbatov cleverly played in Valencia, whose cross left Rooney with work to do, but not only did he win the aerial battle with the taller Collins, he sent a towering header high beyond Friedel into the top corner.
"I am the first player to win this award twice in a row and maybe if I keep my head down there might be more around the corner, " said a delighted Ponting after receiving the top award at the ICC ceremony in Johannesburg.
Leeds staged a late rally and looked to have pinched a win when Iestyn Harris and Blackmore worked the ball wide for right winger Karl Pratt to cross at the corner and Harris' superb touchline goal - his third from four attempts - edged the visitors back in front.
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