Tammy Abraham scored twice on his first start of the season as Aston Villa booked their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 victory over Coventry.
Abraham started over summer signing Nicolas Jackson and cashed in on his chance to pile more early season misery on to Frank Lampard’s side who were beaten for a second time at home in the space of a week.
Both teams have shared early season struggles in front of goal in the Premier League, with Coventry still yet to find the net while Villa only scored once, so few would have been blamed for not expecting goals.
But Villa have saved their best goalscoring form for the cup matches so far this season and Abraham slotted Villa in front before Victor Torp’s sublime free-kick got Coventry level.
Ross Barkley punished the hosts from a corner five minutes before the break to give the visitors the lead heading into the interval.
And set-pieces proved to be the Sky Blues’ downfall as they conceded from a corner for a second time in the contest when Abraham tapped home from John McGinn’s delivery.
The last time these two sides met was back in May 2001 when Villa relegated Coventry, so it made for a tasty atmosphere between clubs who are separated by just 20 miles.
The pair were craving a much-needed win to get their season up and running and it was the visitors who had the livelier of starts.
George Hemmings looked menacing early on and Villa’s opener was all thanks to him after he slipped Abraham through with a delicious outside-of-the-foot pass and the Villa striker was able to comfortably slot beyond Dan Bentley for his first goal of the season.
Coventry aimed to respond and came within inches of getting an equaliser when Torp sent their first effort past Marco Bizot but marginally past the post too.
The hosts ended their goalscoring drought against Premier League sides after Barkley tripped Caleb Yirenkyi up outside the box, Torp stepped up and sent the resulting free-kick past a flat-footed Bizot and into the net.
The momentum swung in favour of the Sky Blues and they ought to have at least tested Bizot when Bobby Thomas opted to pass to Sidiki Cherif instead of shooting while one-on-one.
McGinn uncharacteristically dragged one wide from close range but it mattered very little as Villa hit the front once again.
Barkley’s strike from distance needed to be tipped behind by Bentley but he was not to be denied a second time when he was left unmarked in the box to simply nod home Ibrahim Mbaye’s corner.
Villa capitalised from another corner in the 59th minute, this time McGinn’s low corner bounced to Abraham who was left free inside the six-yard box to tap home his second of the night.
Villa’s new keeper Zion Suzuki, who replaced Bizot at the break, was needed to deny Loum Tchaouna as Villa sealed their passage through to the fourth round.
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