Alex McLeish has tasted Carling Cup glory before. This wasn’t as memorable but it was just as important.

The Villa boss can ill-afford any slip-ups as he continues to take his first steps at the club successfully negotiated another obstacle last night. Just.

McLeish was the manager who dumped Villa out of the competition last season on the way to leading Birmingham to Carling Cup glory against Arsenal in February.

Now charged with steering the claret and blues to similar success, their bid got off to a winning, if low-key, start against Hereford.

Only two late goals from Eric Lichaj – his first for the club – and Nathan Delfouneso saved Villa from the ignominy of extra-time against a side 91st in the Football League.

A win’s a win, although any lingering doubts over McLeish’s appointment will soon evaporate should he continue his unbeaten start. Victory over Wolves on Saturday and the Scot will have some credit in the bank.

Three games, two wins and a draw represent a decent return from the manager who shuffled his pack last night to hand his fringe stars a chance.

Barry Bannan and Marc Albrighton were the stars as an inspired display from Hereford’s on-loan Swansea goalkeeper David Cornell frustrated the hosts.

Villa were comfortable – only for a brief five minutes did Hereford threaten a shock – but they were allowed the sort of profligacy which would be punished in the top flight.

The nagging doubts over the depth of the squad remain, despite progression.

Stephen Ireland, Villa’s forgotten man, hinted at his undoubted talents but was rusty, Jean Makoun did little to suggest he is worth keeping, while Lichaj and Chris Herd are yet to convince.

The jury remains out on whether Villa’s next generation can assume the mantle of their departed colleagues.

That would have been in McLeish’s mind as he kept big guns Darren Bent, Richard Dunne and Charles N’Zogbia in from the weekend’s 3-1 win over Blackburn.

Yet Villa were frustrated in the first half as their League Two visitors admirably held firm.

Ireland should have given Villa an early lead but hesitated when clean through, while Ciaran Clark and Herd sent headers off target.

Rarely did Hereford threaten and, when they did, goalkeeper Brad Guzan claimed Harry Pell’s long-range drive.

Villa should have been out of sight by half-time as Cornell thwarted Ireland from close in after Bent’s knockdown, before clawing the England striker’s header off the line.

The Bulls goalkeeper denied Lichaj after the break, before Ireland planted another header wide.

By then, N’Zogbia and Bent had been withdrawn and it was the Bulls who had the next chance – Joe Colbeck’s free-kick whistling past the underworked Guzan’s far post.

The hosts finally broke the Bulls when Lichaj fired in from Albrighton’s corner on 80 minutes, before Delfouneso made it safe from close range seven minutes later.

Andreas Weimann hit the bar but 3-0 would been harsh on Hereford. Blushes spared, Villa march on.

By Nick Mashiter