Villa began life after manager Martin O’Neill with a flourish as they cruised to a comfortable opening-day victory over West Ham.

Goals from Stewart Downing, Stiliyan Petrov and James Milner – in what was probably a farewell appearance from the midfielder – ensured caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald’s reign got off to the perfect start.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for Villa, who were excellent throughout, as they showed no signs of a hangover from O’Neill’s shock resignation on Monday.

And the nature of the performance, one of the most vibrant opening-day displays in recent memory, will put to bed any fears of the club being embroiled in a crisis as they head to Austria for Thursday’s crunch Europa League play-off first leg against Rapid Vienna.

Milner was a surprise inclusion in MacDonald’s line-up even though the midfielder’s transfer to Manchester City is still expected to be completed next week.

Ciaran Clark got the nod to start alongside Richard Dunne in central defence, while Ashley Young was deployed in a supporting role behind John Carew with Marc Albrighton slotting in down the right wing.

As so often the case under O’Neill at home, Villa flew out of the starting blocks with Dunne and Carew both heading good chances narrowly past the post.

Villa’s crowd did their best to put off West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green, who was making his first competitive appearance since his World Cup gaffe for England against the United States.

But it was West Ham defender James Tomkins who was almost left red-faced with 10 minutes gone, when his underhit backpass sent Carew clean through.

The Norway star showed too much of the ball to Green but, much to the disappointment of the home crowd, the goalkeeper’s block ricocheted against Tomkins and back off the post.

It was just five more minutes before they were celebrating, though, as Green failed to deal with Ashley Young’s whipped cross, merely punching to Albrighton on the right side of the box, with his crisp volley back across goal turned in by Downing.

Six minutes later it could have been two, when goalkeeper Brad Friedel’s long punt was flicked on by Carew towards Ashley Young and his audacious lob was tipped over the bar by the furiously back-pedalling Green.

But in the 40th minute the advantage was doubled, as captain Petrov planted a bullet header beyond Green after timing his run to perfection to meet Ashley Young’s cross.

Villa picked up where they left off after the break with Downing curling a free-kick against the top of the crossbar, after Luke Young had been fouled.

However, West Ham then enjoyed their best spell of the game with Tomkins volleying narrowly past the post shortly before Julien Faubert fired wide poorly from a good position.

But for that brief spell, Villa’s dominance was verging on embarrassing, with every touch cheered by the delighted claret and blue faithful – even during a dramatic thunder and lightning storm.

Even Milner got in on the act with what could well be a farewell goal, drilling into the corner from the edge of the area on 67 minutes.

It could have been even more with Carew hitting the post, with the angle from the follow-up just too tight for Ashley Young.

Milner, who had received a mixed reception before kick-off, was replaced to a standing ovation with five minutes to go ,as Villa’s supporters made their peace with the England star.

Then, rather tellingly, the Holte End cheered their heroes over the finish line to chants in support of owner Randy Lerner, not O’Neill, as the season got off to a perfect start.