Pre-season: Walsall 1 Aston Villa 5 - Report and pictures

In a match that saw Dean Smith return to the Banks's Stadium, the Saddlers stuck to their principles by pressing well and playing a high line.

But the visitors had just too much quality for Darrell Clarke's side - who face Tranmere in their final friendly of the summer on Saturday.

Walsall Report

With the season just 10 days away, Clarke named the side expected to start the season opener at Northampton.

It meant the Saddlers lined up in a three at the back system with Josh Gordon and Elijah Adebayo the front two.

Despite having previously expressed a desire to leave, Morgan Ferrier was named on the subs bench.

Villa lined up in a 4-3-3 system with Andre Green and Jota either side of Wesley up front. Grealish was in central midfield.

The Saddlers started the game brightly with Clarke's men - as they have done all pre-season - impressing with their pressing.

And it led to them creating the game's first chance with Gordon finding himself in space but firing over from 20-yards.

In the space of just three minutes though, Villa effectively had the game won.

They opened the scoring when Grealish sent Frederic Guilbert away down the right.

He then sent in a cross which Jota swept home.

Then in a blink of an eye, Jota turned provider with the Spaniard playing in Wesley who fired into the corner from 12-yards.

Walsall responded with Adebayo doing well to win the ball before surging at goal.

The striker then curled a strike agonisingly past the post from just inside the box.

In the 28th minute though, Villa extended their lead further.

Wesley collected the ball inside the area, but as he spun to escape the attentions of James Clarke he was hauled down by the defender.

The Brazilian then dusted himself down to fire the resultant spot-kick into the top corner.

Walsall pulled a goal back immediately.

Quick feet from Danny Guthrie saw the ball worked to Sinclair.

And he then curled a delicious strike into the top corner from 18-yards.

Walsall continued to press well with the Saddlers doing everything they could to play high up the pitch.

Villa though just had too much quality.

And they made it 4-0 on the stroke of half-time when Jota fired in a fierce low drive from 18-yards.

The Saddlers made a triple change at the break with Jack Rose, Callum Cockerill-Mollett and Ferrier replacing Liam Roberts, Mat Sadler and Gordon.

Villa continued to look dangerous following the re-start.

And the almost extended their lead further when Green nipped in-between two defenders before thundering a strike against the crossbar.

Just before the hour mark though they did make it five.

Wesley proved to be too strong for Cockerill-Mollett with the striker sending in a low cross from the byline which Grealish swept home.

Villa replaced their entire team with the exception of keeper Lovre Kalinic with 20 minutes to play.

Despite the changes, Villa continued to look dangerous.

Scott Hogan saw a goal ruled out for offside while Rushian Hepburn-Murphy proved to be a threat with his pace.

Teams

Walsall: Roberts (Rose 46), Clarke, Scarr, Sadler (Cockerill-Mollett 46), Norman (Facey 67), Pring (McDonald 67), Guthrie (Bates 59), Sinclair, Kinsella, Adebayo (Hardy 59), Gordon (Ferrier 46).

Villa: Kalinic, Guilbert (Bree 72), Engels (Suliman 72), Mings (Hause 72), Targett (Taylor 72), Hourihane (McGinn 72), Lansbury (O'Hare 72), Grealish (Bjarnason 72), Jota (Davis 72), Wesley (Hogan 72), Green (Hepburn-Murphy 72).