Aston Villa 0 Swansea 3 - Report

Goals at the start of each half from Courtney Baker-Richardson and Nathan Dyer put the visitors firmly in command at Villa Park.

Substitute Jay Fulton then put the tie beyond doubt when he finished from close range 12 minutes from time.

Scott Hogan went closest to scoring for Villa but saw his first-half effort saved by Swans keeper Erwin Mulder.

Analysis

Defeat capped a miserable day for the hosts, who look likely to lose top scorer Tammy Abraham to Wolves next week.

Without the on loan Chelsea star in the line-up, Villa duly failed to score in front of their own fans for the first time this season as they limped out of the cup.

Hogan, who replaced Abraham up front in one of six changes made by head coach Dean Smith, began brightly in his first start of the season but then faded, while Jonathan Kodjia was unable to inspire a fightback after being introduced as a second half substitute.

Swansea, with a line-up which featured just one change, were the far more effective team throughout and deserved winners.

Villa, meanwhile, will head to Wigan next Saturday in need of a performance and result to give their season a spark, following a run of just one win in seven matches.

An afternoon to forget also saw the first signs of frustration aimed from supporters toward Smith, following his decision to take off Callum O’Hare in the second half.

The youngster, in truth, had struggled to make an impact in his first appearance for nearly a year.

Villa’s team also included a debut for new goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic, following his £5.4million switch from Gent.

Neil Taylor returned at left-back in a defence which was missing skipper James Chester. Alan Hutton took the armband in his place, playing in the unusual position of left-sided centre-back.

Swansea boss Graham Potter’s one change to the team which won 4-1 at Reading on New Year’s Day was to introduce Courtney Baker-Richardson, and it was he who opened the scoring inside two minutes.

Villa failed to properly clear a corner and when Mike Van Der Hoorn sent a low cross, Baker-Richardson was able to beat Kalinic to the punch, diverting the ball into the net at the second attempt and giving the Croatia international the worst possible start to life in B6.

The hosts, who had themselves gone close in the opening 20 seconds when Hogan shot wide, went in search of a quick leveller.

They thought they had it when Hogan rose to meet an Albert Adomah cross at the far post. But Swans keeper Mulder got a touch on the effort and somehow the ball stayed out.

Having survived, it was the visitors who would then go on to dominate the rest of the halfand by the break they should really have led by more.

Leroy Fer sent a shot whistling just over the bar, while Kalinic was forced into a scrambling stop to keep out a Connor Roberts effort.

Hutton then did well to divert Baker-Richardson’s close range shot just over the bar, after more good build-up play from the Swans.

Villa reached the break fortunate to still be in the game but a failure to learn the lessons of the opening half saw them quickly fall further behind in the second.

Fer was the creator, playing in Dyer with an excellent slide rule pass which left his team-mate the simple task of firing a low finish under Kalinic.

Smith reacted by withdrawing the quiet O’Hare for Kodjia, a decision drew boos from some sections of the crowd. Henri Lansbury also came on for Whelan and gradually Villa began to create some problems.

Joe Roden was in the right place to hack clear after Anwar El Ghazi had played in Kodjia. The former then saw a low shot blocked at close range after arguably Villa’s best move of the match, while Lansbury sent a long-range effort whistling just wide.

Tommy Elphick also headed wide before Fulton ended any hopes of a comeback with 12 minutes remaining.

Villa’s defending was suspect as they failed to dispossess Fer and the Swans skipper crossed for the substitute to stroke home a finish.

Key Moments

2- GOAL Villa make the worst possible start as Courtney Baker-Richardson puts the visitors in front, stabbing home Mike Van Der Hoorn’s cross at close range.

47 - GOAL Nathan Dyer doubles the Swans advantage, slotting a finish under Lovre Kalinic after being played in by Leroy Fer.

78 - GOAL Jay Fulton makes the game safe for Swansea, turning home Leroy Fer’s cross.

Teams

Villa (4-3-3): Kalinic, Hutton, Bree, Elphick, Taylor, McGinn, Whelan (Lansbury 60), O’Hare (Kodjia 55), Adomah, Hogan (Davis 72), El Ghazi Subs not used: Revan, Elmohamady, Bjarnason, Steer (gk).

Swansea (4-4-1-1): Mulder, Naughton, van der Hoorn (Harries 87), Rodon, Roberts, Dyer (James 72), Fer, Grimes, Routledge, Celina, Baker-Richardson (Fulton 72) Subs not used: Narsingh, Mckay, Byers, Nordfeldt (gk).