ASTON VILLA brushed aside the token resistance of struggling second division Notts County in an FA Cup third round replay at Villa Park last night to earn a fourth round trip to Derby County on Saturday.
Dwight Yorke scored twice to take his tally for the season to 15, and Villa's supremacy was underlined when defender Ugo Ehiogu ventured forward to add the Premiership side's third.
Both teams were looking for a much improved performance - following their dreary goalless draw at Meadow Lane last week which necessitated this replay.
Villa certainly began far brighter than in the first encounter, even though they were still without key players Fernando Nelson, Steve Staunton and Ian Taylor. Early pressure resulted in Savo Milosevic looping a header just over, then Gareth Southgate breaking from defence to deliver a cross which Wilder was happy to usher behind for a corner.
County's first threat arrived after eight minutes, but Farrell's enterprising run into the area was ended by a superbly timed tackle from Southgate.
Villa continued to look for the breakthrough to settle nerves and Sasa Curcic was given the opportunity, but squandered it when shooting wildly over from just inside the area. Former County player Tommy Johnson forced visiting keeper Ward into a fine save from a powerful left footed shot. Milosevic tried to feed off the rebound, but succeeded only in volleying wildly over.
The much needed goal finally came for the Premiership side in the 24th minute. Curcic and Alan Wright combined down the left before the latter's cross was headed down by Milosevic. The County defenders hesitated momentarily and that proved extremely costly as Yorke seized on the loose ball to squeeze it just inside Ward's right hand post, although it appeared that the Villa man's low shot had taken a deflection.
Yorke missed the first game between the two teams because of a thigh strain, but showed last night that he was clearly back in top form. His first goal was the first - that County conceded in the competition this season.
