Aston Villa’s Under-23s returned to winning ways with an impressive 4-1 victory over Burnley at Bodymoor Heath on Monday night.
Jaden Philogene-Bidace starred with goals either side of Caleb Chukwuemeka’s seventh strike of the season, with Tristan Abldeen-Goodridge also on target to end a run of three games without a win in Premier League 2 – Division 2.
The starting XI selected by Mark Delaney looked imposing but it was the visitors who had the first opportunity, with Owen Hodgson seeing a powerful first-time effort well saved by Filip Marschall.
Villa’s attacking quality shone through after 14 minutes when Cameron Archer pulled a ball back for Philogene-Bidace and the winger finished clinically for the opening goal.
The Chukwuemeka brothers linked up beautifully midway through the first half as the home side searched for a second, but after Carney Chukwuemeka flicked the ball up, his volley was saved.
They didn’t have to wait too much longer to get the second though, with Burnley goalkeeper Sam Waller’s missed clearance allowing a tap-in for Caleb Chukwuemeka.
Philogene-Bidace then hit the crossbar before Michael Mellon forced a top save from Marschall at the other end, with Bedeau eventually pulling a goal back for the visitors with a simple header on 37 minutes.
Villa’s two-goal lead was restored just before the break, as Philogene-Bidace fired home after beating several defenders inside the penalty area.
Chances were few and far between early in the second half, but Philogene-Bidace fired over just after the hour mark as he searched for his hat-trick.
Mellon had a golden chance to get Burnley back into the game with 19 minutes to play, but he poked wide from close range after a cut-back from substitute Max Thompson.
The visitors continued to apply pressure, but Villa stood firm and added a fourth through substitute Abldeen-Goodridge in the final moments to secure all three points in front of Head Coach Steven Gerrard and his backroom team.
Aston Villa: Marschall; Ealing, Bogarde, Feeney, Swinkels; Iroegbunam, Lindley (C), Carney Chukwuemeka; Archer, Caleb Chukwuemeka (Goodridge 82'), Philogene-Bidace.
Substitutes not used: Zych, Thorndike, T. O'Reilly, Barber.
Burnley: Waller; Vaughan, Rooney, Bedeau, Armstrong; Costelloe (Thompson 69'), Woods, Helm (C), Dodgson; Mellon (Hugill 84'), McGlynn.
Substitutes not used: Allen, Williams, Gallagher-Allison.
