Wrexham 0 Aston Villa 5

Last updated : 28 August 2007 By Footymad Previewer
Martin O'Neill's Premiership Aston Villa cruised into the Carling Cup third round after surviving a couple of early scares.

Their five-goal tally might easily have been greater as they twice hit the woodwork and made several near-misses.

Keeper Stuart Taylor occasionally had to work hard and he was happy to watch Wrexham's Steve Evans miss a chance at the back post. He made a great save to deny Chris Llewellyn, leaping to turn the winger's volley around the post and later did well to parry another shot from Eifion Williams.

The artful Shaun Maloney opened Villa's account on the half-hour, skipping past two tackles before hitting a lot shot passed home goalkeeper Michael Jones, who was unsighted in a crowded goalmouth.

The Villa striker had earlier curled a free-kick over the bar and fired a 20-yard shot beyond the far post.

Wrexham paid dearly for poor marking when Luke Moore headed the second goal from a free-kick floated over by Gareth Barry, which gave Jones no chance.

Nigel Reo-Coker hit the third, beating a tackle by Shaun Pejic and driving the ball in from close range.

Having got his goal, Reo-Coker was substituted by Stiliyan Petrov for the last 23 minutes.

The lively Maloney popped up again with a stunning shot for the fourth goal, hitting it hard and low from all of 30 yards, into the far corner before the keeper had time to move.

Williams gave Wrexham fans something to cheer when he raced in for a good opening, only to waste it by shooting high and wide.

With the game already won, Marlon Harewood wrapped it up with an easy touch-in from a left-wing cross to complete the rout.