Pre-season: Walsall 1 Aston Villa 4 - Report and pictures

In front of 3,501 fans at the Banks's Stadium, Steve Bruce's side secured a comfortable victory as both teams continued their preparations for the new campaign.

Hourihane netted a brace in the first half and one after the break with Jon Guthrie grabbing a consolation for the Saddlers.

For Walsall, Andy Cook, Guthrie and sub Zeli Ismail were bright while Steve Bruce will be pleased with the performances of Hourihane, Richie De Laet and Jack Grealish with the new season less than three weeks away.

With just one fit, senior centre-back in the squad, Walsall boss Dean Keates opted to field a trialist at the heart of the defence.

The player lined up alongside Guthrie and was joined in the back-four by full-backs Nicky Devlin and Callum Cockerill-Mollett.

Watch the game in full here:

There was also a start up front for 18-year-old Dylan Parker who partnered Cook in attack as the Saddlers stuck with their favoured 4-4-2 system.

Villa boss Bruce named a strong starting XI that included Grealish despite reports linking him with a move to Tottenham.

The 22-year-old started just behind frontman Jonathan Kodjia in a 3-5 2 system while De Laet and Tommy Elphick - who were both sent out on loan last season - were also given an opportunity to impress.

It was visitors who flew out the blocks with Villa taking the lead after just four minutes.

After Chris Dunn failed to claim a cross from the left, De Laet swung the ball back in from the right.

And the delivery was met by the on-rushing Hourihane whose side-footed strike deflected off the trialist and into the net.

Despite the setback, Walsall responded well with Maz Kouhyar darting towards the box before playing in Kieron Morris.

But despite being well placed just 10 yards from the goal, the winger dragged a strike wide when he should have done better.

As expected, Villa were seeing a lot of the ball and they doubled their advantage just past the 20-minute mark with a finish of the highest quality.

Grealish laid the ball back to Hourihane on the edge of the box.

And the former Plymouth man then took his time before curling an unstoppable strike past Dunn and into the corner.

Again the Saddlers responded with Parker bundling his way past De Laet before seeing a low effort held by Jed Steer.

But it was Villa who were well on top with Hourihane a whisker away from claiming his hat-trick only to be denied by an outstanding block from Guthrie.

Before half-time though, Bruce's men had grabbed a third.

It arrived when a corner broke for Whelan on the edge of the area.

Parker dashed out to meet him but the midfielder jinked the ball past the youngster before entering the box and drilling a powerful low strike into the net.

It was Keates' men who created the first chance after the interval following a swift counter-attack.

A smart Devlin ball sent Cook charging towards to goal.

And the striker then hit a fierce low drive that a diving Steer did well to tip away.

Undeterred, Villa regained control with Hourihane completing his hat-trick in the 55th minute when he stuck out a boot to deflect a Henri Lansbury strike into the net.

Just seconds later, the visitors almost scored again with Dunn parrying a Grealish strike into the path of Kodjia who headed against the bar.

Keates responded by making nine changes with Guthrie and Dunn the only men to stay on.

And they went on to pull a goal back midway through the half with Guthrie bundling in Zeli Ismail corner.

The changes made the game more even with Ismail bright for the Saddlers and Luke Leahy showing some nice touches.

It was Villa though who continued to look the more dangerous with sub Gary Gardner sending a free-kick inches over while Alan Hutton also went close from distance.

Then in the closing stages Villa again came close with Andre Green hitting a sublime strike against the base of the post before Dunn did well to keep out a close-range Keinan Davies effort.

Line ups

Walsall (4-4-2): Dunn, Devlin (Little 60), Guthrie, A.Trialist (Leivesley 60), Cockerill-Mollett (Leahy 60), Morris (trialist 60), Dobson (Sangha 60), Kinsella (Chambers 60), Kouhyar (Ismail 60), Parker (Candlin 60), Cook (Bakayoko 60).

Villa (3-5-2): Steer; Chester (c) (Bree, 63), Elphick, Hutton; De Laet (Gardner, 69), Whelan (Clark, 69), Lansbury, Hourihane (Green, 63), Taylor (Adomah, 63); Grealish (Knibbs, 69) Kodjia (Davis, 63)