Aston Villa 1-0 Brisbane Roar: Youngsters save the day as Australian side frustrate Villa

A Cameron Archer goal towards the back-end of the second-half was enough to hand Aston Villa a slim 1-0 victory over Australian side, Brisbane Roar.

The A-League outfit sat back througout and made it a tough night’s work for the claret and blue but Archer’s 77th minute strike made sure that it was back-to-back 1-0 wins since arriving down under.

Villa fielded two different sides on the night, one in either half and it was those that suited up in the second 45 that ultimately provided the goods.

The squad that played the first-half struggled to create anything of real note in the Brisbane heat, Calum Chambers the closest to breaking the deadlock when he failed to convert from six-yards out after lovely play from Diego Carlos.

Danny Ings hit the post with a cheeky dink over the on-rushing Roar keeper and Lucas Digne was lucky not to receive a red card for an extremely late challenge which left the Brisbane captain with an ankle covered in blood.

Steven Gerrard opted for 10 changes at the break with Emi Martinez being the only player to retain his place in the sticks.

Villa’s intensity upped almost immediately in the second-half and they grew stronger as the A-League side tired.

Archer skewed an effort wide before making up for it just five minutes later, converting a Kaine Kesler-Hayden cross first-time past the goalkeeper.

Villa pushed for a second but the job was done.

Manchester United are next up on Saturday in what will no doubt be a completely different contest in the final game down under.

First-half. Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Chambers, Carlos, Digne; McGinn, Kamara; Coutinho, Bailey, Traore; Ings

Second-half. Aston Villa (4-1-2-1-2): Martinez [62’ Olsen]; Kesler, Konsa, Mings, Augustinsson [80’ Chrisene]; Luiz; Iroegbunam, Ramsey; Buendia; Archer, Watkins