Walsall 0 Aston Villa 5 - match report

The Saddlers faced Villa in their first ever game in 1888 – a 0-0 draw – but the claret and blues went goal crazy at the Banks's Stadium.

Fabian Delph, Gabby Agbonlahor, Christian Benteke, Jack Grealish and Gary Gardner netted in a slick away performance.

James Baxendale missed the hosts' best chance after Jed Steer's slip but Walsall then failed to seriously threaten ahead of their League One opener at home to Tranmere on Saturday.

Andi Weimann, Benteke and Agbonlahor all started for the visitors with Craig Westcarr leading the Walsall attack.

Mal Benning thwarted Weimann after the striker latched onto Agbonlahor's ball after four minutes before Karim El Ahmadi curled a free kick over.

Villa were snappy in possession with Walsall seeing little of the ball and Weimann fired wide following Agbonlahor's powerful run and cross down the left.

Paul Lambert's men underlined their dominance on nine minutes when Delph was allowed to stride forward to bury a low shot from 20-yards.

Walsall struggled to contain their visitors with Villa cutting through their defence.

And was 2-0 on 33 minutes after a devastating burst from Agbonlahor left three defenders trailing as the striker streamrolled into the area and slipped the ball under Richard O'Donnell.

A minute later Benteke's 20-yard curling effort struck the bar with Villa going through the gears.

Walsall almost pulled a goal back six minutes before the break when James Baxendale seized on Jed Steer's poor clearance but fluffed his lines as Steer recovered.

Benteke then flashed a shot on the turn over as Villa finished the second half hunting more goals.

The visitors paired Nicklas Helenius with Benteke after the break as only Antonio Luna, Weimann, Benteke and Agbonlahor stayed on for the second half.

Triallist Shane Lewis replaced Richard O'Donnell at the interval with only Ben George returning for a much changed Walsall.

And Lewis was beaten six minutes after coming on when Helenius picked out Weimann to cross for Benteke to smash in at the near post.

The Belgian was withdrawn soon after with Weimann and Agbonlahor replaced by Gary Gardner, Carruthers and Grealish.

And Grealish needed just three minutes to net the fourth when Helenius' pass cut Walsall open and the Villa youngster rolled past Lewis.

Yacouba Sylla shot straight at Lewis and Gardner completed the scoring with a stunning 30-yard free kick which screamed into the top corner with three minutes left.

Milan Lalkovic then forced Brad Guzan into a smart stop at the near post as Walsall almost bagged a consolation at the death.