Aston Villa 3-0 Tranmere Rovers

Aston Villa have safely progressed to the third round of the League Cup after beating Tranmere Rovers 3-0 this evening.

Villa came close after just 15 minutes when Barry Bannan tried a long-range half-volley, but his effort narrowly missed the target.

The hosts thought that they had taken the lead just minutes later as Bannan's cross was headed in by Nathan Baker, but the referee disallowed the goal due to a foul.

Bannan continued to threaten, hitting the bar with a free kick before Stephen Ireland had his lob chalked off, this time due to an offside.

The Premier League side finally did take the lead six minutes before the break, Fabian Delph forcing the ball over the line after meeting Enda Stevens's chipped cross.

The lead was doubled after 65 minutes as Chris Herd reacted quickest to Fon Williams's parry from Ireland's shot.

Villa's progression into the next round was sealed with less than 10 minutes left when Darren Bent smashed Brett Holman's pull-back into the top corner.