FA Youth Cup: Newcastle United 0-4 Aston Villa

Aston Villa Under-18s marched through to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup on Thursday evening, with a commanding 4-0 victory away to Newcastle United. 

The damage was done by Jimmy Shan's side in a devastating opening period at Whitley Park, with the Villans taking their three-goal lead into the break. 

Cole Brannigan opened the scoring inside four minutes with a close-range finish, before impressive youngster Jack McGrath doubled the lead with a sublime free-kick.

Mason Cotcher completed Villa's first-half work just before the interval to send them in at the midway stage in a commanding position, before a second from Brannigan 19 minutes from time rounded off the scoring to book the Young Lions' place in round five, where they will host either Cardiff City or Bristol City. 

In their first competitive outing since a 6-0 third-round success over Accrington Stanley, well over a month ago, the Young Lions began with a high intensity, looking to take an early advantage.

Good work from Trai-Varn Mulley down the right-hand side teed up Brannigan in the centre, though his effort was blocked inside the opening 30 seconds.

But the lively winger was not to be kept out for much longer, giving Villa the lead after four minutes. Cotcher’s shot inside the area was smothered, landing at Brannigan’s feet, and he had the simple task of tapping into an empty net.

Shan’s players were then made to weather something of a storm from the Young Magpies, who responded well in their efforts to draw the game level.

Trevan Sanusi, Sean Neave and Michael Mills all sent efforts off target, as pressure mounted on Villa’s goal.

But the visitors successfully made their way through the period of pressure, doubling their advantage in sublime fashion after 35 minutes.

Under-16 Jack McGrath was a constant bright spark for the Young Lions, and won a free-kick on the edge of the area, dusting himself down to step up and send the resulting set-piece curling into the bottom corner for 2-0.

Villa were well in control, and found time before the interval to add a third and assert an even more controlling position heading into the second period.

McGrath was again the architect, finding himself in space on the right-hand side and locating Cotcher at the far post, who did the rest to put his side further in front.  

Things might have got even better for the away side a minute before the break, had Brannigan been able to find the target with a left-footed effort from the edge of the area, but his shot clipped the outside of the far post as the referee brought the opening 45 to a close.

Newcastle began the second period with a renewed energy in their attempts to stage a fightback. The dangerous Mills cut inside and forced a save out of Sam Proctor, but the hosts' attacking vigour was again quickly nullified by their visitors. 

Time ticked on in a second period where Shan's youngsters seemed content to consolidate their advantage by remaining solid, as Alfie Lynksey's audacious volley from the edge of the area called goalkeeper Aidan Harris into action. 

But the Villans did find time for a fourth. Mulley again surged down the right-hand side and picked out Brannigan at the far post, who controlled well and steered into the back of the net with the aid of a deflection to round off a successful evening. 

Aston Villa cruised through to the fifth round - where they will face either Bristol City or Cardiff City at home - having netted 10 goals and conceded none from their opening two games of this season's FA Youth Cup campaign.

Aston Villa: Proctor; McWilliams (c) (booked 57', Burgess 60'), Carroll (Wilson 82'), Routh, Bloomfield; Quinn, Lynksey (booked 31', Jenner 57'); Mulley, McGrath, Brannigan (Hayward 76'); Cotcher (Meade 82'). Subs (not used): Asemota (GK); Fortes. 

Goals: Brannigan (4'), McGrath (35'), Cotcher (41'), Brannigan (71'). 

Newcastle: Harris; Shahar (c), Craggs, Finneran, Cogdon; Watts (Taylor 89'), Munda; Sanusi (Waddani 89'), Brayson (Alabi 46'), Mills (Ferreira 68'); Neave. Subs (not used): Jones (GK); Johnson, Wooster.