Pre-season: Charlton 1 Aston Villa 4 - report

John McGinn netted twice as Dean Smith's men recorded a 4-1 at The Valley.

Skipper Jack Grealish set up Anwar El Ghazi and then Andre Green either side of the break to put the visitors in command.

McGinn then struck either side of Lyle Taylor's consolation penalty for the hosts.

The Scot's second goal was a superb solo effort which capped another attractive pre-season display from Villa.

McGinn and Grealish were the only two visiting players to complete the 90 minutes and it was they who drove a performance with no shortage of panache.

Villa's opening two goals were courtesy of fine team moves and they moved the ball well throughout, to the delight of a near 3,000-strong travelling support.

The most notable piece of Vila team news saw in the inclusion of Mahmoud Trezeguet in the starting XI, with the Egyptian international making his debut after receiving a work visa.

Ahmed Elmohamady, his international team-mate, also made his first appearance of pre-season, having been granted extra time off following the Africa Cup of Nations.

Elsewhere at the back, Ezri Konsa also returned to the line-up having missed out at Walsall, while there was also a start for El Ghazi after two games out with a minor injury.

There was no place in the squad, however, for record £22million signing Wesley, or defender James Chester, who missed out for the second successive match.

The match was a testimonial for Chris Solly, with the long-serving defender given a guard of honour by both teams prior to kick-off.

And it was Solly who was involved in the first goalmouth action of the match, getting the faintest of touches to take an inviting Elmohamady cross out of El Ghazi's reach.

Otherwise, it was a pretty quiet start, with a Conor Hourihane free-kick which just cleared the bar the first attempt on goal from either team on 15 minutes.

Charlton keeper Dillon Phillips was also scrambling soon after when El Ghazi's shot flicked off a defender and looped onto the top of the net.

Solly, having started strongly, then almost handed Villa the lead with a wayward pass to give Grealish a sight at goal. The Villa skipper's shot was blocked by Naby Sorr, saving Solly from embarassment on his big day.

Neil Taylor was the next man to go close to Villa. The left-back, who has not scored a league goal for a decade, curled a right-footed shot just wide of the post just seconds after seeing an effort blocked.

Villa's opener eventually arrived seven minutes before the break and was worth waiting for in. A patient passing move which began at the back gathered pace when Grealish ran at the defence before playing a perfectly weighted ball into the run of El Ghazi, who took a touch before sliding a finish under Phillips.

Elmohamady came close to getting a second before the break when he headed a McGinn cross wide.

Charlton, despite some nice build-up play, struggled to find the final ball and their uncertainty in the final third was summed up when new boy Chuks Aneke wasted a good chance to shoot by 12 yards out by hesitating too long.

Aneke would at least register the home side's first serious effort on target when he shot powerfully but straight at Steer following a swift counter-attack.

Mings was also in the right place to hack clear an Aneke shot as the hosts began to find some rhythm.

But Villa continued to look dangerous and 10 minutes after the restart they got their second.

Grealish again provided the final pass, this time to Green who slid a finish under fellow half-time substitute Ben Amos in the Charlton goal.

Two minutes later, Villa were three ahead. McGinn looked to be offside when he received a pass from Frederic Guilbert but the flag stayed down and, after steadying himself, the Scot sent a low effort from 20 yards out beyond Amos with the aid of a deflection.

Villa looked in the mood for more and Guilbert sent a 25-yard effort whistling over the bar not long after.

It was Charlton, however, who would score next. Konsa was adjudged to have brought down Taylor in the box and the latter slotted a cool penalty beyond Jed Steer.

Ben Purrington was a whisker from pulling a further goal back when he couldn't quite reach substitute James Harriott's cross.

The final word was instead left to McGinn, who beat a defender and then keeper Amos before sweeping the ball into the net from a tight angle.

Villa (4-3-3): Steer, Elmohamady (Guilbert HT), Konsa (Hause 66), Mings (Engels 83), Taylor (Targett 66), Hourihane (Lansbury (66), McGinn, Grealish, Trezeguet (Jota HT), Davis (Hogan 66), El Ghazi (Green HT) Subs not used: Bree, Kalinic (gk).