Walsall 0-3 Aston Villa

Morgan Rogers’ first-half brace helped Aston Villa open their pre-season schedule with a 3-0 victory at Walsall.

Rogers opened the scoring in the 21^st minute as he latched on to summer signing Ross Barkley’s quick free-kick before applying a cool finish.

And he doubled his tally with a neat finish on the turn from a corner shortly after the half-hour mark to put Villa in control against the Saddlers.

Manager Unai Emery made 11 changes at the interval as new arrivals Kosta Nedeljković, Samuel Iling Jr and Enzo Barrenechea were all introduced, with a host of youngsters featuring throughout at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.

And it was Louie Barry who converted a third for the visitors from close range in the 90^th minute from Iling Jr’s low cross.

The Villans continue their pre-season campaign with a trip to Slovakia to face FC Spartak Trnava on Saturday.

Barkley, enjoying his second spell at the club, was named in Emery’s starting XI, with Cameron Archer leading the forward line, Pau Torres at the heart of defence and Matty Cash wearing the captain’s armband.

Josh Feeney, Kaine Kesler Hayden, Lamare Bogarde and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba were also named in Villa’s line-up.

The encounter started at a high-tempo, Kesler Hayden flashing the first opening over the crossbar before Barkley tested goalkeeper Tommy Simkin.

And it was new boy Barkley who played a key role in Villa’s opener midway through the first half, his quick free-kick sending clear Rogers, who calmly slotted past Simkin.

The Villa midfielder came close to doubling his tally in the 35^th minute following a sweeping counter-attack, his 20-yard effort tipped over the bar by Simkin.

But Rogers didn’t have to wait long as, from the resulting corner, the ball dropped into his path and the 21-year-old turned and fired into the bottom corner.

Emery rotated his XI at the break as a total of 22 players featured in the pre-season test, with Villa’s travelling faithful seeing a trio of new faces enter the fray.

The hosts started the second half on the front foot and created a couple of half-chances, while Villa continued to pose a threat at the other end.

Leon Bailey fired off target from fellow substitute Lucas Digne’s low cross in the 69^th minute, before Barrenechea whistled a 20-yard strike narrowly over.

Bailey came close to connecting with another teasing ball into the danger zone by Digne.

And Villa added a third with almost the last kick of the match as Barry slotted home from Iling Jr’s low ball into the six-yard area.

Aston Villa first half: Olsen, Cash, Feeney, Torres, Moreno, Kesler Hayden, Bogarde, Barkley, Jimoh-Aloba, Rogers, Archer.

Second half: Gauci, Nedeljković, Carlos, Swinkels, Digne, Young, Dendoncker, Barrenechea, Iling Jr, Bailey, Barry.