FA Youth Cup: Aston Villa 3-0 Plymouth Argyle

Aston Villa cruised into the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup with a commanding performance against Plymouth Argyle at Villa Park.

Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba broke the visitors’ resistance shortly before half-time, slotting home from close-range to open the scoring.

A clinical finish from Bradley Burrowes provided the home side’s second of the night and Cole Brannigan rounded off a fine move to make it 3-0 after 73 minutes.

The Pilgrims rarely threatened but brought the best out of Sam Proctor in the final minutes when the ‘keeper tipped a free-kick onto the crossbar.

Victory sets up a final four clash against Manchester United at Villa Park in April.

Villa’s route to the quarter-finals had seen them beat Accrington Stanley, Newcastle United and Bristol City, coming from two down in the latter, with the squad chasing the club’s fifth triumph in this competition.

A bright start in B6 saw the hosts on the front foot from the off, applying plenty of pressure going close to the opener when Jimoh-Aloba’s goalbound shot was blocked by Jensen Ireland with the ‘keeper beaten.

The Villa No10 was denied in similar fashion, this time by Pilgrims captain Joel Sullivan, just before the half hour mark as Argyle continued to defend resolutely.

George Hemmings was next to take aim, directing his long-range shot on target and tasking Daniel Holman with diving across his goal to parry the effort away.

Just as the teams looked set to head in all square at half-time, Villa found a way to break the deadlock via Jimoh-Aloba.

Cole Brannigan threatened initially, curling a shot against the post, before Mason Cotcher got the rebound and set up Jimoh-Aloba, who snuck a shot through the legs of Holman.

The second half began as the first finished, with Villa in complete control of the contest.

Cotcher failed to connect with Burrowes’ driven cross before Jimoh-Aloba planted a header narrowly wide of the far post as they sought to build up a two-goal lead.

But the hosts didn’t have to wait much longer before netting a second, with Burrowes latching on to Cotcher’s through ball and nutmegging the ‘keeper with his first-time finish.

Plymouth captain Sullivan sent a vicious volley over the crossbar as the visitors mounted a rare foray forward, but their defences were soon to be breached for a third time.

A sumptuous crossfield pass from Aidan Borland invited Teddie Bloomfield to advance down the left before sending in a cross for Brannigan, who took a touch and dispatched the ball past Holman.

Proctor had been a bystander for most of the match but he showed his quality to preserve his clean sheet with three minutes left, diving across goal to tip Fletcher Poole’s free-kick onto the post.

Aston Villa: Proctor, Rowe, Routh, Carroll, Fortes (Bloomfield 61’), Borland, Hemmings (Lynskey 69’), Burrowes (Quinn 75’), Brannigan (Mulley 75’), Jimoh-Aloba (McWilliams 79’), Cotcher.

Unused subs: Asemota, Jenner.