Aston Villa got their pre-season schedule up and running with victory against Walsall at the Banks’s Stadium on Wednesday night.
A different starting XI was fielded in each half by Villa, with Ollie Watkins netting a brace, both assisted by Emiliano Buendía, as the visitors led 2-0 at the interval.
Jaden Philogene-Bidace and Aaron Ramsey scored in the second half to ensure the visiting Villans picked up a win.
Charged by a crowd that were clearly delighted to be back in the stands, the game started at a frenetic pace with Matty Cash and Buendía linking up nicely before the full-back tested the goalkeeper inside the first two minutes.
Jacob Ramsey, Anwar El Ghazi and Watkins were thwarted by fine saves from home stopper Jack Rose as the visitors asserted themselves before the latter put them ahead.
The England international raced through, rounded the ‘keeper and slotted into an empty net on 26 minutes after a divine through ball from Buendía split the defence wide open.
An instant connection has clearly been struck by Villa’s attacking duo, and they repeated the trick to make it 2-0 after 38 minutes.
Buendía spun and once again sent a beautifully weighted through ball into the path of Watkins, who set himself before sliding the ball into the far corner.
With a new starting XI for the second half - bar Jed Steer in goal - Villa stretched the lead with a fine team move on 51 minutes.
The visitors worked the ball quickly through the lines before Wesley played in Philogene-Bidace, who calmly picked out the bottom corner.
Another homegrown youngster, Aaron Ramsey, extended the lead shortly after, lashing home from the edge of the box.
Keinan Davis had a couple of chances to grab a goal, while Villa successfully nullified the home side's threat at the other end.
Aston Villa first half starting XI: Steer, Cash, Konsa (c), S.Revan, A.Young, J.Ramsey, Nakamba, Chukwuemeka, El Ghazi, Buendia, Watkins.
Unused substitutes: Sinisalo, Marschall, Kesler Hayden, Wright, Barry, Raikhy, B.Young.
Aston Villa second half starting XI: Steer (Sinisalo 83'), Guilbert, Hause, Bogarde, Chrisene, Hourihane, A.Ramsey, McGinn, Philogene-Bidace, Wesley, Davis.
Unused substitutes: Marschall, Kesler Hayden, Wright, Barry, Raikhy, B.Young.
