Downing made his full debut for Villa with a goal at Portsmouth.
The winger had been out with a broken foot since joining Villa from Middlesbrough in the summer.
“I think I got more confident as the game went on,” he said in the Birmingham Mail.
“There were some cracking goals in the game and I am very pleased to be part of it.
“I think we played well as a team and although I haven’t had that much time with the boys I think when you play with good players around you it is a lot easier to slot in.”
“It has been frustrating but the main thing is I am through it now, through this game and I got a goal,” he added.
“I just got more and more confident as the game went on. I am so pleased we are in the hat now for the next round.”