By Aston Villa FC

Aston Villa's Under-23s produced a dominant display to beat Reading 4-1 at Bodymoor Heath in Premier League 2 on Monday night. 

Brad Young (2), Tristan Goodridge and Louie Barry were all on target to secure a first win of 2022 for Mark Delaney's side.

Carney Chukwuemeka started following his substitute appearance at Goodison Park on Saturday, with Kaine Kesler Hayden also included in the starting XI but withdrawn due to injury just before half-time. 

Villa took just five minutes to open the scoring, with Young latching onto Tommi O'Reilly's precise ball in behind the Reading backline and rounding James Holden before slotting into an empty net.

PL2: Aston Villa 4-1 Reading

The visitors fought back though and levelled the scores just before the quarter-hour, with Jahmari Clarke cutting inside and finishing low beyond Filip Marschall.

Goodridge was introduced as an early substitute to replace Finley Thorndike and he forced a save midway through the half, before Barry curled an effort over the crossbar moments later.

The home side's dominance deserved another goal and it came on 28 minutes, with Goodridge firing a volley beyond Holden after Ben Chrisene displayed great persistence on the left-hand side. 

Reading's best chance before the end of the first half came courtesy of Mamadi Camara, when his toe-poked shot was saved by Marschall with his feet before Villa managed to clear. 

PL2: Aston Villa 4-1 Reading

Both sides struggled to create clear opportunities after the break, with Villa having to wait until just before the hour-mark to extend their lead.

O'Reilly played Young in behind and the striker struck a ball across goal to provide Barry with a tap-in at the back post. 

The away side still held a threat, with Marschall saving well from Holzman moments after Villa's third goal of the night. 

PL2: Aston Villa 4-1 Reading

Reading's captain Claudio Osorio almost scored an outrageous goal to bring his side back into the game but after dribbling into the penalty area in the 70th minute, he curled his shot wide of the post. 

Barry fired wide with his left foot as the game moved into the closing stages, with Chukwuemeka forcing a save soon after following a trademark drive into the box.

The fourth goal came inside the final 10 minutes, with Young finishing clinically past Holden for his second of the night after being played through by Barry. 

Villa will be looking to make it back-to-back wins when they travel to face Newcastle United next Monday. 



Aston Villa: Marschall; Kesler Hayden (Barber 45+'), Lindley (C), Feeney, Chrisene; T. O'Reilly, Iroegbunam, Chukwuemeka; Thorndike (Goodridge 20' (Afoka 76')), B. Young, Barry.

Substitutes not used: Zych, Hart.

Reading: Holden; Abrefa, Ashcroft, Holzman, Bristow (Strickland 44); Leavy (Purcell 62'), Camara, Osorio (C), Senga; Clarke, Méïté (Scott 46').

Substitute not used: Collins.