U18s: Aston Villa 0-4 Crystal Palace

Aston Villa fell to a 4-0 defeat against Crystal Palace in their Under-18 Premier League South clash on Saturday.

The Young Lions, who drew against Southampton in their season opener, found themselves 3-0 down at the interval following three goals in nine minutes at Bodymoor Heath.

And the visitors added a fourth late on to inflict a first defeat of the campaign.

Villa will be looking to bounce back when they travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Kyrie Pierre was thwarted by some last-ditch Palace defending before Omari Kellyman fired over when well placed.

The hosts were looking more likely to break the deadlock in an evenly-balanced contest, but it was the Eagles who opened scoring in the 36^th minute as Adler Nascimento found space out wide, cut inside and curled into the top corner.

The visitors added a second in the 42^nd minute when Junior Dixon poked home Zach Marsh’s cross following a long ball over the top.

And there was still time for away side to add a third before the break as Dixon capitalised on a defensive error which allowed Joe Gibbard to slot home.

It was 4-0 with seven minutes remaining as Marsh again found Dixon with a low cross and he slotted into the back of the net.