Harewood brace for Villa

If all Villa’s trips to the continent prove as straightforward as the 6-0 win over FC Wil next season, Martin O’Neill’s men can look forward to the UEFA Cup Final in Moscow.

Of course, few outings over the next 10 months will be as one-sided. Marlon Harewood (2), John Carew, Nathan Delfouneso, Shaun Maloney and Wayne Routledge were the goalscorers.

Swiss Challenge League outfit FC Wil 1900 were overwhelmed by their Premier League visitors.

Harewood opened the scoring on eight with a close range volley into the roof of the net, as Carew raced down the right and found his strike partner with a near-post cross.

Former West Ham man Harewood could have completed a hat-trick within the first 15 minutes but was twice denied by home keeper Davide Taini.

The Swiss keeper was powerless in the 23rd minute though as Ashley Young and Harewood combined down the right to create an opening for Carew.

Last season’s top scorer made no mistake as he tapped home from close range. Villa were in complete control and Harewood added a third on the half-hour mark.

Carew was again involved, racing on to Moustapha Salifou’s incisive through ball and crossing from the left for his strike partner to tap in at the far post.

The scoreline could have been doubled before half-time as Harewood, Carew, Salifou and Laursen all went close.

As expected, O’Neill rang the changes at half-time, making five substitutions. Two of the new men were on the mark within five minutes.

First Delfouneso fired into the roof of the net with his first senior touch on 47. Then Maloney chipped in with a trademark free-kick from 25 yards three minutes later.

Routledge completed the scoring with the goal of the night on 59 as he jinked in from the right and sent a low drive into the far corner.

O’Neill made four more changes as the second-half wore on and, not surprisingly, Villa lost something of their earlier rhythm.

The Villa boss will now be looking for his side to step up a gear against FC Zurich on Saturday.

Villa: Taylor, Laursen, Young, Harewood, Carew, Knight, Salifou, Routledge, Petrov, Baker, Gardner. Subs: Agbonlahor (for Carew ht), Williams (for Salifou 75), Parish (for Taylor 77), Delfouneso (for Harewood ht), Reo-Coker (for Petrov ht), Stieber (for Knight 71), Albrighton (for Routledge 72), Osbourne (for Laursen ht), Maloney (for Young ht).