Just past the hour McIndoe's wonderfulshot - hit with the outside of boot - narrowly went wide as the Doncaster winger continued to bewitch the Villa defence.
When Robson replaced Kanu with Darren Moore it seemed as if he was happy with a point, but Carter had other ideas, rifling a wonderfulshot beyond Jens Lehmann's despairing dive.
On the stroke of half-time, Schwarzer produced a wonderful one-handed save to tip away Arteta's shot that threatened to dip into the corner of the net as the Spaniard used his right boot to devastating effect.