Villa 3 Tranmere 0 - analysis and pictures

The Capital One Cup might hold zero per cent interest for a number of Villa fans until later rounds but manager Paul Lambert will be satisfied with this home banker.

Just 15,319 supporters turned up at Villa Park to watch the claret and blues book their place in the third round of the newly-rebranded League Cup with a fairly emphatic win over Tranmere Rovers.

Click on the image on the right to see more pictures from the game

And after two dismal opening matches in the Premier League against West Ham and Everton it helped the Scot build up some credit with his first win on home soil, albeit against League One opposition.

There are undoubtedly much sterner tests to come for Villa in the next few weeks with Newcastle and Swansea on the horizon, but this performance was a step in the right direction and will give confidence to a number of players still finding their way under Lambert.

None more so than midfielder Stephen Ireland who was Villa's most impressive player against Ronnie Moore's side and someone who has clearly caught the eye of Lambert.

"Stephen's a talented player, he's a naturally gifted footballer. I don't know what happened to him here but it's up to us to get best out of him," explained Lambert.

"He's really talented. He's really clever. We need Stephen and he needs the team to help him.

"The way he plays you try to give him licence to make things happen. He has that creativity in his armoury and he's a real talent."

Ireland was one of six changes made by Lambert from the side which lost 3-1 to Everton, including a debut for left-back Enda Stevens and a first start of the season for keeper Brad Guzan.

Villa thought they had opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Barry Bannan whipped a free-kick into the box and a combination of Nathan Baker and Darren Bent bundled the ball into the net, but referee James Adcock spotted an infringement.

The claret and blues went close again 10 minutes later when Tranmere centre-back Ash Taylor brought Bent down on the edge of the penalty area and Bannan curled in a free-kick which clipped the top of the bar.

Ireland lofted the ball over Owain Fon Williams and into the net shortly afterwards but the assistant referee had already flagged for offside.

Villa eventually broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when Fon Williams could only partially save Stevens' cross-shot and Fabian Delph was on hand to steer the ball home.

Tranmere began the second half with renewed purpose and Liam Palmer saw his shot blocked by Nathan Baker shortly after the interval.

Andreas Weimann skipped clear of the visitors defence in the 62nd minute but Fon Williams got down well to his right to save his shot from a tight angle.

The Austrian striker then missed a golden opportunity to double the lead when he headed over from close range after he was picked out by Eric Lichaj's hanging cross.

However, a concerted spell of Villa pressure eventually yielded a second goal in the 66th minute when Ireland's low cross was parried by Fon Williams and Herd bundled home from inside the six-yard box.

Andy Robinson kept Guzan on this toes with a snap-shot in the 74th minute and a minute later Ireland saw a long-range effort acrobatically saved by Fon Williams.

But Villa wrapped up the victory in the 81st minute when substitute Brett Holman escaped down the right and pulled the ball back for Bent, who to smashed it past Fon Williams.

Villa (4-4-2): Guzan 6/10; Lichaj 6, Baker 7, Lowton 7, Stevens 6 (Holman, 67, 7); Herd 6 (Burke, 76, 6), Delph 6, Ireland 8, Bannan 7; Bent 7, Weimann 5 (N'Zogbia, 71, 6).

Subs not used: Williams, Johnson, Delfouneso, Given (gk)

Tranmere (4-4-2): Fon Williams; Holmes, Taylor (Kay 65), Gibson, Bakayogo; Thompson (Bell-Baggie 67), Wallace, Palmer, Robinson (Harrison 76); Akpa Akpro, Cassidy.

Subs not used: Power, Kirby, Stockton, Mooney (gk).

Attendance: 15,319.

Referee: James Adcock (Nottinghamshire).