Aston Villa started pre-season with a 4-0 win over Walsall at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday.
Leon Bailey, Cameron Archer, Ollie Watkins and Douglas Luiz all netted in a routine victory for Steven Gerrard’s side as they gear up for their upcoming tour of Australia.
The manager handed a first outing to new arrival Diego Carlos; the Brazilian centre-half partnering Tyrone Mings at the heart of the defence for the opening 45 minutes.
It wasn’t even 10 minutes, though, when Villa opened the scoring against the Saddlers.
Leon Bailey, deployed on the left wing, smashed an effort into the roof of the Walsall net from close range after Anwar El Ghazi had helped on a cross from the right.
The two linked up moments later when Bailey provided a lay-off for El Ghazi, but the Dutchman’s volleyed attempt went high and wide.
Villa’s siege on the hosts’ goal continued when Bertrand Traoré let fly with two fierce efforts from outside the area, both beaten away by Owen Evans.
Walsall were left frustrated by their lack of possession in the first half, encapsulated by Isaac Hutchinson’s speculative strike that dragged well wide of Viljami Sinisalo’s post just before the break.
But before the half-time whistle came, Villa doubled the lead.
Cam Archer pounced on a loose touch from a Walsall centre-half before bearing down on goal and delicately dinking the ball beyond the onrushing Evans with expert aplomb.
Steven Gerrard rang the changes after 45 minutes.
Ashley Young, fresh from penning a one-year extension with the club, came on at right-back, while Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings were tasked with spearheading the attack together.
Ings almost found the net with his first touch but saw a sweet volley go just over the bar.
The striker then teed up Buendía who stung the palms of Evans in the Saddlers net with a rasping effort from a tight angle as Villa continued to mount pressure.
It wasn’t long until that pressure told, as Ollie Watkins swept home an effort from the edge of the area to add a convincing look to the scoreline before the hour-mark.
Ten minutes later, a fourth was added in somewhat fortuitous style.
Douglas Luiz swung in a corner from the left-hand side and almost looked bashful to see it go all the way in at the far post.
Sinisalo was forced into action late on when he palmed away a long-range attempt from Ronan Maher, keeping his clean sheet intact in the process.
Aston Villa first-half starting XI: Sinisalo, Kesler Hayden, Carlos, Mings (C), Revan, Azaz, Nakamba, Traoré, El Ghazi, Bailey, Archer
Aston Villa second-half starting XI: Sinisalo, A. Young, Chambers, Feeney, Chrisene, O’Reilly, Luiz, Sanson, Buendía, Ings, Watkins
